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Tsitsi Ndabambi
“Celebrating Hopes and Aspirations for a New Zimbabwe” is the theme for the fifth edition of the Harare International Carnival which will this year be held from October 15 ending with the mother of all; the street party on October 20.

ZTA chief executive Dr Karikoga Kaseke guaranteed that the “happiness party”, which will relieve everyone from their daily sorrows, has been planned to a higher level with a total of 111 participating local groups and an additional estimated 30 corporates joining in.

“Cuban Samba dancers will this year join the plus or minus thirty countries that will be taking part and I would like to assure you that they are even better than the Brazilians,” announced Dr Kaseke during a media briefing; “it is going to be the mother of all carnivals at which His Grace the king of the Ashanti tribe of Ghana will be attending.”

Trinidad and Tobago, USA, Namibia, Egypt, Zambia and South Africa will be part of the street party that is expected to create employment and boost the economy.

Another major attraction during the carnival festivities will be the pre-AFRIMA concert Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) dubbed the “Turn up Africa Concert” featuring soon to be announced African artistes is expected to attract a large audience around the continent.

Carnival in motion

Adding to the festive atmosphere besides the licenced vendors who will be offering mouth-watering food, the organisers are topping it up with lined-up forty block parties and other additions to make it more exciting.

After receiving an award for the best carnival by Socrates a United Kingdom festival watch group, ZTA is buoyed and motivated to deliver the best this year.

This year NetOne, the main carrier of the event, has a huge mandate to maintain the standard that last year’s main sponsor Big Time Strategic Group set up.

The ZTA team which is currently in preparation mode did not forget their promise to award the carnival’s 2017 winners apologising for the delay due to logistical challenges.

On September 14 Brazilian group Momo King received the award for the best international group followed by first runners up India-Manipuri Cultural Troupe and Mozambique Centro Cultural Academico Montalto-ISPM.

In the traditional dance category Dzikwa Trust Senior Group were the winners followed while Hwamanda Traditional Dance Troupe and Tashinga Traditional Dance Group from Chiredzi were the first and second runners up respectively.

The Catwalk Models got a first runner up in the contemporary category and the winning trophy was scooped by Christ Embassy Church, a lot more awards were presented to more participants.

Dr Kaseke aired his doubts about this year’s turnout as he believes that it might attract a lower turnout compared to last year; who knows maybe he might be wrong.

He strongly promised the public an environmentally clean carnival as he had faith in the new government to control all disease outbreaks before then.

The carnival will officially kick start with a welcome reception where all the international troupes will perform for President Mnangagwa or one of his appointed Vice Presidents.