TAWANDA MARWIZI
Not many in Zimbabwe would know that Vilakazi Street is a Soweto street named after Benedict Wallet Vilakazi, a distinguished South African writer and educator who wrote the first poetry book published in Zulu.
But many know it as the street where one would find the homes of two Nobel Peace Prize laureates – South Africa’s first democratically elected president, the late Nelson Mandela, and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. In this is the only street in the world that can boast having had two Nobel Laureates as residents.
Year-in-year-out tourists in and outside South Africa or rather Mzansi make time to visit Soweto where they indulge in the ghetto cuisines and appreciate artwork. Apart from the breath-taking scenery at Table Mountains and safari drives at Kruger National Park, township tourism has become one of the main sources of revenue in neighbouring South Africa. According to a study carried out by ResearchGate, nearly 25 percent of all international tourists visiting Cape Town participate in township tours.
Back home some places could adopt this model. The late music icon Oliver Mtukudzi’s Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton comes to mind. The arts centre has nurtured several upcoming and blossoming musicians in Zimbabwe, some of whom were mentored by Mtukudzi. Such a business model has created a niche market for some local entrepreneurs.
In Dzivaresekwa suburb, Padziva has been driving the township tourism concept. The joint has become the go-to place for families as it offers cocktail of amenities like braai, kids’ play area, car wash, and a big screen that caters for soccer fanatics.
Joint proprietor boss Benjamin Nyandoro said they were bringing something refreshing to the people especially families.
“The culture of uniting families should start with us and Padziva is one place that will foster such initiatives that is why you see we have everything here including a place for children,” said Nyandoro who is also Jive Zimbabwe boss.
He said they wanted to promote township tourism as the place will have the best facilities in town.
“As you can see leaders are talking about middle class economy, we have to take that direction so that we give people real value for their money,” Nyandoro said.
Padziva has embarked on several initiatives like the OneBigParty that is hosted at the place every Saturday.
Under that initiative, celebrities come and celebrate birthdays at the joint.
“OneBigParty is a franchise established by Jive Zimbabwe that seeks to bring together people celebrating their birthdays, anniversaries, milestones, achievements, awards, anything that made your month every month,” he said.
They have hosted a number of musicians that include Jah Prayzah, Jah Signal, Comic Pastor and Zimdancehall artiste, among others.
“We have facilities for other social interactions and we also have places for kids to have fun. We have come up with a number of unique concepts that make us different from other players, particularly the BoyzCanCook, which has taken the scene by storm,” Nyandoro said
