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Harare International Carnival grows bigger, better

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The Harare International Carnival is a week-long annual festival that encompasses a series of events and festivities. It is aimed at advancing the arts, culture and heritage of Zimbabwe as well as uniting the populace.

The Harare International Carnival is a week-long annual festival that encompasses a series of events and festivities. It is aimed at advancing the arts, culture and heritage of Zimbabwe as well as uniting the populace.

by Staff Reporter

The carnival will begin on Saturday October 10.

It is all about celebrating diversity, getting communities together and getting to know one another.

Zimbabwe as a country boasts of the rich cultural and traditional events which celebrate the seven wonders of the country in activity, jubilation and colour.

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Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) head of corporate affairs Sugar Chagonda said they will be a galore of entertainment throughout the festival as various players in the entertainment sector have been contracted to partner with them for the successful management of the carnival.

“We work with various private partners who are not strangers to the entertainment industry. Here we are talking about people like Biggie Chinoperekwei, Partson ’Chipaz’ Chimbodza and Josh Hozheri,” he said.

The carnival, which has been held in the country for three years now, will see a series of cultural events and festivities. The festival is running under the theme Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

While many observers have felt that this year’s edition was low-key, perhaps as a result of the socio-economic challenges, the fiesta’s popularity is likely to be revived on October 7 when the tradition drawcard, Samba Night, will be held at Private Lounge.

Raunchy dancer Beverly Sibanda – whose shows are always sold out – will headline the Private Lounge show, alongside Brazilian samba dancers in what is likely to be the highlight of the carnival.

Jamaican reggae artiste Mr Melody is expected in the country tomorrow ahead of his maiden performance at the Soca Night gig on Tuesday at Red Fox Hotel in Harare as part of the ongoing Harare International Carnival.

He will share the stage with local acts including Judgment Yard, Red Fox Sounds, DJ Sadiq, DJ Simz, Platinum Entertainment and Digital One International.

Red Fox proprietor Robert Zhuwao urged fans to come in their numbers.

“As always, Red Fox prides itself as being trendsetters for music from the Caribbean and as a result we are bringing Mr Melody to perform in Zimbabwe for the first time and fans should come in their numbers and support this talented artiste,” he said.

Chagonda said the carnival has the potential to turn around the economy and boost development if more stakeholders come on board. “The carnival is still in its infancy, which is an investing stage as we are still building the brand and people should understand that it will take time for the brand to be built. However, we are confident that in the future this carnival will definitely have an economic impact on the country,” Chagonda said.

He said the carnival was aimed at advancing the country’s arts, culture and heritage as well as uniting people in love and harmony.

The ZTA has partnered with the Democratic Republic of Congo for this year’s edition and about 20 countries — among them Malawi, Botswana, Namibia, Egypt, Nigeria, the United States of America, United Kingdom and Brazil — have so far registered for the carnival that will be graced by a number of local and international acts.

The cultural fiesta was this year officially launched on September 5 at Harare Town House.

By the time it was officially launched, the carnival already had 30 corporates and the uniformed forces as well as 30 schools registered to take part in the popular carnival street party.