The Sunday Mail
THE resort town of Masvingo, home to a world class heritage site, Great Zimbabwe, reverberates to life this week as it hosts a two-day cultural festival.
The arts fiesta, which was initially scheduled to take place last month, will now run on Saturday and Sunday.
The Great Zimbabwe International Festival is being organised by the Great Zimbabwe International Festival Private Limited and will feature music performances, a street party, craft exhibition and a food festival.
Artistes lined-up to perform include Baba Harare, Jah Signal, Andy Muridzo, Suluman Chimbetu, Transit Crew, Mannex, Dadza D, Guspy Warrior, Mbeu, Albert Nyati and Mannex, to name just a few.
Organisers have also been calling on poets to submit their works in either Ndebele, English or Shona, highlighting the importance of the national monument.
Winners of the poem competition are expected to receive prize money and will also get an opportunity to recite their winning sonnets at the event. The programme is expected to attract both locals and foreigners. Speaking in a video drop from her base in the United Kingdom, one of the brains behind the event, Eugene Majuru, said she expects the event to market destination Masvingo.
“This festival is open to everyone and we want people to come and have fun in three of the locations the event will be taking place at the same time, getting to appreciate the beauty of the monuments,” said Majuru.
“We want Zimbabwe and the world at large to focus on Great Zimbabwe so that we promote domestic and international tourism.”
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), which is currently on a massive drive to promote domestic and international tourism, noted that such events are crucial in driving tourism.
ZTA chief executive, Dr Karikoga Kaseke said every tourism destination in the country needs to be properly marketed.
“Zimbabwe boasts of world class attractions that are found in each one of the country’s 10 provinces. Thus we encourage and support individuals or groups that come up with events that help promote tourism in different parts of the country,” said Dr Kaseke.
“We have destination marketing events like the Victoria Falls Carnival that is popular with revellers, the annual tiger fish tournament and the Nyaminyami Lakeside Festival in Kariba. These should be supported for tourism purposes.”
The Great Zimbabwe structures are said to be the largest and second-oldest in sub-Saharan Africa. The monuments have captured interest among both and foreigners..
