Part of the motorcade during CHIEF’s street procession in Chipinge town
SUN is rising over forest horizons. Pirate taxis are dropping and picking up passengers at illegal pick up points scattered in the commercial business centre as touts who stand on minibus and pirate taxi doors are ululating on top of their voices.
A speeding vehicle drives through a red robot. Vendors are spreading their wares on roadsides. A group of women in white robes and head covers are walking to a scheduled place where they congregate for worshipping. Council police is milling around the town.
This is a description of Chipinge town two Saturdays ago. The upcoming town woke to a new package as far as domestic tourism is concerned.
Dubbed Chipinge International Exhibition and Fashion (CHIEF), an exposition coordinated by Mr Ashirai Mawere, has all what is desires for cultural tourists to flock to the eastern part of the country. Fashion, culture, food, entertainment and beauty pageant all trolled into one.
Can fashion exhibition really attract tourists to a place?
Cultural tourism is incomplete without the mentioning of fashion or attire. A culture is identified by its dressing code. In Zimbabwe and Mozambique, chikisa dress identifies the Ndau people as xibhabhela clothing identifies the Tsonga/Shangaan in the two countries as well as South Africa.
What motivates people to attend a package like CHIEF? Clothes designers exhibit to promote traditional attire in its original form or its modification which suits global trends. The designers take such platforms to network and open new markets.
The other reason why people visit fashion shows has much to with shopping. Host communities are usually the suppliers of raw materials. People in the communities know the best material needed for cultural attire. Also, raw material purchased in such communities is often cheaper than those from outside places.
An important reason why fashion designers descend on host communities has much to do with creative artists. Host communities offer untapped talent in cultural attire designing. Fashion designers tend to exchange notes or even contract talented craftsmen to work under their clothes labels.
The other segment of people who visit fashion shows are those who tour the exhibitions for study or leisure. Students from institutions of higher learning who major in fashion take exhibitions as opportunities to learn more on current fashion trends. Luxury tourists get satisfaction by just being part of the expos as they happen.
Fashion shows turn around the economy of the host place. Travel and tourism industry benefits directly and indirectly. There are greater chances of visitors to fashion shows to visit nearby places of interests.
Chipinge is home to The Big Tree of Chirinda Forest. The tree is the largest indigenous tree (red mahogany) in Southern Africa. It is also ranked the second largest tree in Africa and the tallest indigenous tree in Zimbabwe.
The tree is just 32km east of Chipinge town. Ten-metre high Muswirizi Falls at Glassplats about 2km off the 24km peg of the Chipinge town-Chirinda road offers tourists a natural breathe. Paiyepo Cultural and Heritage Centre at Bangira Village in Chikore about 38km south-east of the town offers visitors undiluted Ndau culture.
Food and accommodation suppliers also benefit from fashion shows. Publicist for CHIEF, Mrs Amy Kotze of Makandi whose personal business is confectionery indicated that the exhibition promotes the Brand Chipinge. Said Mrs Kotze; “The event has united us and promotes the Brand Chipinge. We are family. CHIEF markets our products to the world.”
Miss Winnie Chinheya of D’Plaza Lodge which accommodated fashion models admitted that CHIEF promotes tourism. Said Miss Chinheya; “CHIEF helped my room occupation shoot to more than 90 percent from the usual 50 percent or less. Room occupation generally low in Chipinge.”