Story by Tichaona Kurewa
Zimbabwe and the UN Tourism have concluded an agreement to set up a Culinary Academy in Victoria, with construction works expected to begin mid-year, with the facility targeted to open its doors in 2028.
In July last year, UN Tourism and Zimbabwe signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to mark the establishment of the Zimbabwe International Tourism Academy for the Culinary Arts in Victoria Falls.
It is against this background that the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Honourable Barbra Rwodzi was recently in Spain to tie the loose ends.
Minister Rwodzi told ZBC News that construction of the school to be named after the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa for her sterling efforts in promoting gastronomy tourism will begin this winter.
“We are expecting to start the construction mid-year. From July going forward we should start the construction. It must last us two years. The school must open in 2028,” she said.
The school will be established within the Masuwe Special Economic Zone which will also put Zimbabwe on the global map and provide employment.
“If the United Nations is coming to be a part of us, anyone else can come to be a part of us. So it drives more investment in the country but more so for us in tourism, it’s about endorsing the destination. We already have the ground because this whole land, 271 hectares, belongs to the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry through Mosi-oa-Tunya Development Company. So the land for the school is already there, it’s a nine-hectare land for the school which is ready and which is already on the subdivision,” she added.
Under the MOU, UN Tourism will provide the expertise and curriculum, while Zimbabwe work on the actual infrastructure and running of the school.
Zimbabwe had the privilege to host the first UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa in July last year, another testament to the success of the country’s engagement and re-engagement efforts.
This inaugural event, co-organised by UN Tourism, the Basque Culinary Centre and the Zimbabwean government, saw over 400 delegates among them experts, chefs and tourism officials from across Africa convening in the Resort City.
