Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi officiated at the fourth Diplomatic Charity Bazaar today on behalf of First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, as 26 embassies and nearly 100 local exhibitors gathered at Old Georgians Sports Club in Mount Pleasant.
Organised by the Diplomatic Spouses Association in Zimbabwe (DSA), led by president Mirjana Grujic, the event brought together the Diplomats and Expatriates Tourism Cluster and the Culture and Heritage Tourism Cluster. It showcased national attire, traditional cuisine, music and dance.
The programme opened with the Flag Parade of Nations. Beyond the food stalls, visitors browsed handicrafts, clothing and souvenirs, watched displays of national costumes and folklore attire, and took part in the raffle at the DSA stall. A kids’ corner offered activities for children, including the popular children’s passports.
A full stage programme ran through the day, with performances by Dudu Manhenga, Mary Anibal, Vee Mhofu and the Bana Des As band, alongside young artists from the Zimbabwe College of Music and other local ensembles. Mc Zandile Ndlovu “the Zazalicious One”, led proceedings with co-MC Tinashe Simudzirayi.
The bazaar was framed as an exercise in soft diplomacy that supports Zimbabwe’s foreign policy philosophy of “A Friend to All and an Enemy to None” and the mantra “Zimbabwe is Open for Business”. It also promoted domestic tourism by giving Zimbabweans a chance to experience diverse cultures, while opening market opportunities for local businesses and cultural enterprises.
The occasion outlined the First Lady’s roles as Zimbabwe’s Tourism Patron, Culture and Heritage Patron and Wildlife Ambassador. In those capacities she champions the preservation of cultural identity, indigenous knowledge, gastronomy and wildlife conservation as part of destination marketing and national branding. Her work has drawn UN Tourism recognition, including the title Queen of Gastronomy in Africa. 
The bazaar also kept to its charitable mandate, with proceeds going to charitable projects across the country. The First Lady donated money to Jairos Jiri and served lunch to the organisation’s beneficiaries at her Kitchen stand.
Ultimately, Mrs Mirjana Grujic said that the event showed how culture builds bridges between nations, how diplomacy deepens international relations, and how tourism can turn Zimbabwe’s heritage into social and economic opportunities.
