Story by Tafara Chikumira
THE first restaurant to offer exclusively traditional dishes, the Highway Gastro Hub, has been commissioned in Kwekwe, in a major milestone set to boost gastronomy tourism in the country.
The seed of gastronomy tourism which was popularised by the country’s tourism ambassador the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa continues to grow with the latest being the opening of the restaurant which serves traditional meals.
The restaurant, located some 30 kilometers from Kwekwe, is a breath of fresh air as it offers unique dishes that are an alternative to fast food.
“We are coming on board to complement the efforts by our First Lady, Dr Mnangagwa, who has been pushing for the uptake of gastronomy tourism. Here, we are saying people can come and relax and remember their culture by getting some traditional food. We also offer culinary skills to those who wish to pursue hotel and tourism classes,” Director of Operations for Gastro Highway Hub, Mrs Margaret Mhaka said
The government says the introduction of gastronomy tourism is set to propel the tourism sector which is now angling to attain a US$12 billion economy by 2030.
“This is a huge milestone in this country. This is a unique restaurant, which is right on the roadside. People can come here and relax with their families. We are saying every dollar spent in the tourism sector counts. The future of this sector is indeed bright. We have made strides since 2018, and we are breaking records,” Minister of Tourism and Hospitality industry, Honourable Barbra Rwodzi noted.
The Midlands province is equally pleased with the development, which will improve the provincial Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“We are indeed grateful to have been chosen as the destination of choice in setting up this unique restaurant in our backyard. We are the centre and indeed the heartbeat of the nation. Today, we are celebrating excellence, and it is through visionary leadership that respects tradition and goes back to basics that serving the nation going forward is critical,” Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Owen Ncube added.
In 2024, the tourism sector contributed 12 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), surpassing agriculture and mining as the sector continues to come up with robust initiatives towards achieving the recovery and growth plan of the critical sector.
