The ManicaPost
Freedom Mutanda Post Correspondent —
February 18, 2017 promises to be an explosive day in the history of the small farming town of Chipinge as there will be the Chipinge International Exhibition and Fashion (CHIEF) at Goldfields Shopping Mall. It will blow the visitors and the community away as the organizer has promised in an interview with The Weekender.
Ashirai Mawere, who calls himself a moral entrepreneur, is the co-ordinator of the CHIEF which is in its second year after he broached the idea in 2016 and subsequently held the fashion show much to the enjoyment of those who attended.
The reigning Miss Chipinge is a teacher, Annie Kudakwashe Zvoushe, who teaches at Nemauku Secondary School in Masvingo. Mawere explained the reasons behind CHIEF and reiterated the fact that Harare is not Zimbabwe; people ought to have their own carnivals in different parts of the country for tourism to take shape notwithstanding where one could be domiciled. Life is how you make it.
“Chipinge is the home of muchongoyo, a traditional dance that lit a fire of bravery in warriors’ hearts during those bygone days and it is in this spirit that many beautiful tales of pungwe meetings are told by Chipingians; this is their story that we want the whole country to know. We felt holding CHIEF might unlock value to a lot of things in Chipinge we take for granted,’’ Mawere said.
The organizer hopes it will be one of the most eagerly awaited events in the town’s calendar. Chimanimani Festival of the Arts is now moribund and it is the hope of the CHIEF members that with the advent of the new kid on the block, perhaps, the former will have some form of regeneration.
Asked what CHIEF entails, Mawere was quick to point out that the festival wasn’t a one-band movement and said culture cements Ubunhu/Unhu and that was why CHIEF would be a visual splendour.
“It is going to be one of the most anticipated cultural exhibitions in the country as it will host a gathering of carnival enthusiasts, models, fashion creators and designers, the media, government officials and tourists,’’ Mawere said as he beamed with anticipation.
He believes that the event will create vast opportunities for everyone. The target audience is the young and the old and tourists as well.
“There are romantic tourists out there who wish to have fun and this is your chance to enjoy being at home when you are away.
‘‘We are in our second year but we hope to have an explosion on 18 February when Chipinge town is turned into a town of love and the drum majorettes entertain the town and we march in the CBD as we celebrate our diversity. We may have different names but we all belong to God,’’ Mawere said.
The business community and a development partner are in the same basket with Mawere in an effort to boost domestic tourism which ultimately paints the nation as a safe and attractive tourist destination.
His partners are FACT, Mafume Law Chambers and Massive Designs and Associates.
An observer in the town, Farai Chakasikwa, said it was ideal for Chipinge to have its own version of HIFA since it has a rich history of different ethnic groups that intermingled over time.
“Our differences in language doesn’t preclude people from celebrating that diversity. In that vein, the second edition of CHIEF must certainly cement that aspect of celebrating the creative earth which in other countries is a highly paying industry.
The fact that it will promote tourism resonates with Cde Walter Mzembi’s push to get the apex job in world tourism,’’ he said.
As the countdown to February 18, 2017 begins, many party enthusiasts are waiting with bated breaths.
