CHENGETAI MURIMWA
The Munch and Sip festival has grown in popularity over the past few years to become Bulawayo’s premier food extravaganza.
Founded by Mandipa Masuku, the festival, which was held at the Matopos Sailing Club last weekend, about 35 kilometres southeast of Bulawayo, attracted more than 3000 music and food lovers.
A few years ago, the festival started as a low-key event that would only attract a few friends of the organisers and some foodie enthusiasts.
But, it has grown to become the biggest foodie extravaganza in the southern part of the country.
Some revellers, who attended the event in Matopos, were forced to park their cars about five kilometres from the venue as all parking spaces at the venue were taken.
“Our main objective when we created Munch and Sip was to create lifestyle events with quality entertainment for the young and old that doesn’t just involve drinking but conscious appreciation of an event that makes people feel good,” Masuku told Business Times.
Songbird, Gemma was the main act.
She was supported by some local acts from Bulawayo and also local club DJs were on rotation to keep music enthusiasts on the dance floor.
“We picked Gemma since we appreciate her jazz-like music and it resonated well with revellers having food and drink,” Masuku said.
She added: “We had three chefs competing on a challenge to become the best street food chef.
Thousands of people who turned out for the event enjoyed the soul food that was being served.
Masuku said she was motivated to host more Munch and Sips since this was her biggest ever event.
“I am motivated to give the city of Bulawayo better quality events that they will enjoy in scenic surroundings. We are hoping to get sponsors on board so that we continue to drive the good food narrative across,” she said.
Masuku said she is happy that the event managed to create part time jobs for some unemployed youth in the City of Kings and Queens.
“A lot of part time jobs were created from pitching the tents to the transporters and to the park guides to even hairdressers with their hair specials for the special weekend.
“The performers that travelled to Bulawayo, the shuttle service that transported people to Sailing Club and even waste collectors,” she narrated.
A company that was contracted to pick up recyclable waste at the event, Umhlaba Waste Recycling, picked up 72 kilograms of recyclable waste at the end of the event.
Masuka said she was happy that the event was no longer just a festival but food has really built a community.
“We will continue to organise quality events with great chart topping music, great drinks but above all fantastic time with friends and family,” she said.
She said at the end of October there will be another exciting event, The Good Wine Experience which will be hosted in the Matopos National Park as a way of promoting local tourism.