Harare International Carnival targets three million attendees. . . Justice Maphosa unveiled as platinum sponsor Dr Karikoga Kaseke
Dr Karikoga Kaseke

Dr Karikoga Kaseke

Melissa Mpofu, Showbiz Editor
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), organisers of the annual Harare International Carnival (HIC), have their eyes set on attracting three million attendees for this year’s event after an estimated two million are said to have attended previous editions.

Announcing the carnival’s return on Thursday, ZTA chief executive, Karikoga Kaseke said this year’s event was being rebranded and would be bigger and better. The 10-day extravaganza is scheduled to take place in the capital from September 1 to 10 with the climax being the street party on September 9.

There will be a cocktail of carnival events in between.

“There has never been consensus in terms of the numbers of people who attended the previous editions of the carnival. We estimated the numbers to be in the region of two million and this year, we’ve dubbed the show, three million man carnival,” said Kaseke.

He said they were convinced they would stage a world-class event as Government has already given them adequate funds to do so.

“Government, through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has given us adequate funds to deliver an excellent carnival akin to its standards of being the biggest street party in Southern Africa,” he said.

Other than Government, the carnival also has another platinum sponsor in the form of SA-based Gwanda businessman, Justice Maphosa through his Big Time Strategic Group of companies.

“More so, we’ve been fortunate to have found a reliable partner and sponsor with whom we have a shared vision of the carnival. The event will be named Big Time Harare International Carnival as the sustainable partnership we have with the Big Time Strategic Group has seen them intimately supporting our programmes,” said Kaseke.

ZTA’s partnership with Big Time will see the SA company providing stage and lighting equipment for the main stage. They will also pay for local and regional artistes performing at the fete.

“Among other critical things, Big Time Strategic Group will give us the main stage, public address system, the lighting equipment and sponsorship of both local and regional artistes.

“With such support, certainly the Harare International Carnival will grow much more in years to come into a sustainable and viable national event supported by talent, expertise, skills and knowledge that is uniquely Zimbabwean.”

Government funds, according to Kaseke, will not be going to waste as apart from the socio-cultural benefits accrued from the carnival, the event has had a huge impact on the country’s economy.

“The last time we had the HIC in 2015, according to our research, the event generated around $21 million within the week of the carnival thereby delivering considerable benefits, not only to individuals, but the national economy at large.”

The carnival will be held under the theme: “One Love – our unity our pride.”

About 25 countries are expected to showcase their culture at the carnival as well as locals drawn from different parts of the country.

On the preparations of the event, Kaseke said they were still deliberating on the carnival street procession route.

“The major change this year is the route of our carnival street party. Traditionally, the procession began at the Magistrates’ Courts into the CBD. This year, we’re converging on the eastern side of the CBD and proceeding to the Robert Mugabe Square opposite Rainbow Towers. That’s where the main stage will be mounted for a Carnival musical concert,” he said.

The ZTA has introduced a legacy project which will see them try to restore glitz and glamour to the streets of Harare by first transforming Robert Mugabe Road which has become a shame to the country, according to Kaseke, by cleaning it up and putting proper vending stalls.

“The road is filled with all sorts of dirt emanating from different activities of vending and transport movement rampant during the day and night.

“We cannot continue to cast a blind eye to that as a nation. Robert Mugabe Road is named after our iconic President. We need to show respect and pay homage to the Head of State by creating order and sanity in this road.

“We’re going to put proper vending stalls which are also environmentally friendly along Robert Mugabe Road. We want to create a shining model that’ll also link them with the main stream economy. Vending happens anywhere in the world even where there are strong and vibrant economies like in the USA and Italy but it’s how it’s done that makes a difference,” he said.

Kaseke said they would be launching the rebranded carnival today in Highfield at the Takashinga Cricket Club.

“We’ve taken the carnival launch to the people to give them a feel of the big event to come. It’ll be a free show that’ll see the crème de la crème in the music entertaining people including Jah Prayzah, Soul Jah Love, Andy Muridzo, Shinsoman, Peter Moyo, Mbira Dze Nharira, Diamond Musica and Seh Calaz,” he said.

Afterwards, the carnival will be decentralised by creating carnival fiestas in Mutare, Masvingo, Gweru and Bulawayo to get people from different parts of the country excited ahead of the main event. Dates for the fiestas are yet to be unveiled.

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