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Tendai Rupapa in BINDURA

MASHONALAND Central Province was yesterday in for a traditional treat, thanks to First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa who took her Cook-out Traditional Meal competition there as part of efforts to unlock the nutritional and medicinal benefits of indigenous foods to the nation.

Some contestants prepared their food in clay pots and served on wooden plates in an African-themed style which gave a traditional feel to the proceedings.

The cooking competitions were held at Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University’s kitchen area and the room was decorated with traditional utensils like winnowing baskets, sweeping brooms, wooden spoons, clay pots, pumpkins, maize, watermelons and other traditional foods showing how competitive and appealing anything African can be. Maheu was also served from gourds which helped keep its temperature cool.

Amai’s Cook-out Traditional Meal competition comes at a time when the younger generation was favouring processed foods and takeaways at the expense of traditional dishes which were rich in nutrients and had medicinal properties.

First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa and Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Monica Mavhunga looking at a traditional dish being prepared during Amai’s cook out traditional cooking competition in Bindura yesterday

Most people are using traditional remedies like muzumbani to prevent the effects of Covid-19. The aim of the cook-out traditional meal competition, the First Lady has emphasised, is to encourage Zimbabweans to enjoy preparing and consuming traditional dishes.

Yesterday’s competition drew 20 participants who prepared different dishes that included baobab porridge, roasted groundnuts, dried groundnuts and maheu as starters.

For the main dishes, they prepared sadza from sorghum, millet, mazondo, road runner, dried beef in peanut butter, madora, road runner in peanut butter, rabbit meat in peanut butter, buck meat in peanut butter and kapenta. They also prepared fish, zvinyenze, rupiza, mutakura, mabumbe, gwatakwata, munyevhe, mutsine, muboora and munyemba.

For desserts they served magaka ane minzwa, bananas, apples, watermelon, guavas, cucumbers and mbwire-mbwire.

Some participants also prepared a dish called sisito made with dried sweet potato leaves in peanut butter, locusts and maheu from roots of a tree called Mukumbanyuchi.

The drink is said to be energy-giving and expels air from the body. Judges were looking at the presentation of food, cook’s confidence, portions, taste and whether or not the food was well-cooked, among others.

The winners, both number one and two won pots and other kitchen utensils. All the contestants walked away with food hampers courtesy of the First Lady.

Yesterday’s competition was held in strict observance of Covid-19 preventative measures of masking up, sanitising and observing social distance.

Mrs Rosey Muringai, the wife to Chief Nembire of Mt Darwin who came second said: “In our country before going out we have food which nourished even our ancestors. This is what the First Lady is encouraging us to consume. We have also learnt how to prepare some dishes we had never cooked.”

Mrs Chipo Nyanyiwa from Bindura who took the first position, said she was happy that the First Lady’s competition would help transform lives.

“I am happy because of the programme that has been brought by our mother of promoting our traditional food which makes us stay healthy. We do many tasks and our bodies must be supported by good food,” she said.

Mrs Nyanyiwa said she would share the knowledge she has acquired with other women and young girls in the community and at church.

Mrs Norah Nyarumwe, wife to Chief Musana, said the First Lady’s programme helped revive knowledge on traditional dishes which are nutritious.

“We fully embraced this programme that was started by the First Lady because it showed us that most children of nowadays no longer appreciate traditional food. If we give you millet sadza you refuse, but this is where we want our children to go back to,” she said.

The 20 participants included chiefs’ wives, women from different churches, the elderly and women in business.

In her keynote address, the First Lady said she hoped the cooking competition would open the eyes of the nation to revert to the traditional dishes.

“Most of us no longer eat traditional meals which were consumed by our ancestors, resulting in us being weak. We are now susceptible to many ailments some of which can be prevented by the food we eat. Some of the foods we are eating may affect our bodies causing diseases like cancer, cardiac challenges, diabetes, kidney complications and many others.

“It is important for us to have knowledge about the various kinds of food in our country. Foods like millet and sorghum sadza, okra, madora, mutakura, rupiza and others build our bodies. They strengthen the body’s defence mechanism to prevent diseases,” she said.

The mother of the nation said there was nothing embarrassing about eating healthy food which builds one’s body.

“I hear some people in urban areas bragging that they do not enjoy locally-produced foods in favour of exotic dishes. What they do not appreciate is that they will be destroying their bodies. That is why you see some people being troubled by diseases without change.”

Amai Mnangagwa encouraged mothers to fully understand the kinds of food they pack for their children on their way to school.

“Let us encourage the youngsters to embrace their history and culture. This will give them an understanding of the importance of the food that was consumed in years gone by. It is not all of us adults who understand this food and how it is prepared.”

She encouraged chiefs’ wives to promote the consumption of food that is good for people’s bodies in their communities.

“These foods are not expensive and we can grow them ourselves. Some of the vegetables grow on their own like black jack and mubonongwe which are helpful to our bodies. We remain Zimbabweans, that will never change. Therefore, let us take pride with our country’s heritage.

“I kindly ask the Minister of Environment, Tourism, Hospitality and Climate Change to promote these dishes among tourisms in hotels. We also urge restaurants to follow suit. Even the aviation sector can promote traditional dishes among your passengers. Even long-distance bus operators can also do the same,” she said to wild applause.

Amai Mnangagwa encouraged women in remote areas to preserve these vegetables for future use. “Chirongwa ichi hachisi chanhasi chete ngachisaperere pano. Endai nechirongwa ichi munharaunda dzatinogara muchidzidzisawo vechidiki tsika nemagariro kuti vagoona kukosha kwechikafu chedu. Ndinoda kuti muzondidaidza mudzinharaunda dzenyu kuti ndione pamunenge masvika nechirongwa ichi. Vedzisvondo dzidzisai vasikana vechidiki mumakereke enyu,” she said.

Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu, who was represented by his Permanent Secretary Mr Munesu Munodawafa described the First Lady’s programme as an eye-opener.

“We want to thank you Amai for promoting traditional healthy foods. As the ministry, you opened our eyes Amai. This opportunity and lessons you have brought has opened our eyes so that we are not ashamed of our culture as Zimbabweans.”

Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs and Devolution Monica Mavhunga, said she felt humbled by the First Lady’s work which promoted the country’s culture and heritage.

The competition will spread to other provinces before national finals in Harare.