ZIMBABWE: Harare International Carnival Comming Soon

ZTA spokesperson, Sugar Chagonda, confirmed the developments.

“We had initially set September 14 to 17 as the dates of this year’s fourth edition of the Harare International Carnival, but after discussions with some of our stakeholders and partners, new dates have been set in line with our principal leadership’s commitments,” he said.

Chagonda said ZTA chief executive officer, Karikoga Kaseke, was busy with the campaign as well as some of the authority’s stakeholders.

Mzembi, who is gunning for the post which falls vacant next year, has already received a shot in the arm in his campaign following the creation of a website by the Ministry of Communication and Technology and Courier Services to run his campaign online.

Chagonda said they were confident the change in dates would allow them adequate time to prepare for a resounding successful festival.

“We might have set October 6 as the official date that will see the carnival bursting into life but it must, however, be noted that there will be a galore of entertainment as a series of pre-events ahead of the main festival in collaboration with various private players who are not strangers to the entertainment industry,” he said.

Chagonda said about 60 groups had already registered to participate in the carnival and the closing date is August 31.

He said the carnival, which was aimed at advancing the country’s arts, culture and heritage as well as uniting people has the potential to boost the economy if more stakeholders come on board.

About 15 countries including Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Germany, Zambia and South Africa had so far confirmed their participation.

ZIMBABWE: No Difference, Zimbabwe Cuisine Like South And East African

The Food delights offered in Zimbabwe are actually as vibrant and varied as the history and culture of Zimbabwe’s people. Having said that, the local food that you might indulge in is based on which region you are in.

Eating in Zimbabwe is an enjoyable and rich experience. Food in Zimbabwe has got countless styles along with thousands of excellent dining places in all the primary metropolitan areas and towns of Zimbabwe.

What's more, food in Harare and other Zimbabwean holiday resorts are not restricted to traditional Zimbabwean delights. Cuisine from all over the world can be found in Zimbabwe, including Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern, and other international tastes.The cornmeal-based dietary staple of Zimbabwe is also the national dish, called sadza.

Sadza to the Zimbabweans is like rice to the Chinese, or pasta to Italians. In fact, sadza re masikati , or "sadza of the afternoon" simply means lunch. Sadza re manheru, or "sadza of the evening" means dinner. Sadza is made from cornmeal or maize, and eaten with relish. Relish can be any kind of vegetable stew, but nyama, (meat), such as beef or chicken, is common among families who can afford it. Sadza is cooked slowly until thick, like porridge.

Other traditional foods are peanuts, beans, butternut squash, gem squash, green maize (or corn on the cob), and cucumbers. Avocados are plentiful and cheap. Bowara , or pumpkin leaves, can be eaten fresh and are commonly mixed into stews, like dovi (peanut butter stew). Meat and game such as beef, springbok (African gazelle), kudu (large antelope), and goat are eaten, the larger game reserved for special occasions. At more expensive restaurants, crocodile tail, shoulder of impala (a type of antelope), and warthog may be on the menu.

During the summer, open-air markets sell dried mopane worms (spiny caterpillars) and flying ants by the pound. Both can be eaten fried and are said to taste chewy and salty. Flying ants fly in dense clouds around any source of light during the summer, and can be eaten live. The wings are torn off, then the bodies are eaten. The taste is considered slightly buttery.

ERITREA: Opportunities And Prospects Of Tourism in Eritrea

Potential and prospects of the smokeless industry in Eritrea.

International Tourism Day have been celebrated on the 27th of September under the theme “Millions of Tourists: Millions of Opportunities.” The theme indicates that as more tourists visit a given country, a variety of opportunities arises for the people of the host country.

Tourism is a labor intensive industry, incorporating small businesses and individuals to large corporations. Since tourism involves direct cash spending by visitors, it can have a quick, direct impact on the local population and economy, helping to improve development and standards of living.

The smokeless industry offers a variety of tangible benefits. These include economic benefits, since the industry provides direct job opportunities (e.g. restaurants, tour guides, and hotels) and indirect employment (e.g. food production, transport services, and entertainment venues).

The direct expenditure tourists make also generates income for the local community, thus potentially alleviating poverty. Tourists travel the globe, often prepared both financially and mentally to visit areas of interest. During their period of travel, tourists often spend a substantial amount of money that can positively impact communities and states.

Additionally, tourism may also bring about a real sense of pride and identity to the host community. Through tourism, the community can display its way of life, culture, traditions, and history. In this regard, tourism has a significant role to play in encouraging local communities to preserve traditions and cultures to attract more tourism.

Tourists need to have full information about the country they are expected to visit, and it is very important that they know about the history, culture and places of interest they are supposed to come and enjoy.

There are different types of tourism, including cultural tourism in which people come to experience the history, folklore, and culture of a people; ecotourism, where people travel to enjoy the landscape and the natural beauty of a country; religious tourism, involving visiting a place of spiritual significance; and business tourism, which sees people travel to complete business transactions or attend business meetings.

ART DECO. The capital city Asmara represents one of the most concentrated and intact assemblage of Modernist architecture anywhere in the world.

Each type of tourism involves people who are eager to travel to host countries with different intentions. The historical heritage, festivals, religious shrines and religious festivities, big agro-industries, and natural seaside beaches are among the places of interest tourists often like to visit and experience.

In order to attract the different types of tourists, host communities should ensure that tourists are well informed. First and foremost, they should be confident that they will find the things they need during their stay. This could be accomplished through advertisements appearing on different media outlets. Moreover, key infrastructure developments, such as airports, roads, communication and transport services, are very important features that tourists generally expect.

In order to achieve the high standard experience that visitors expect, and also to contribute to the growth of the industry, it is necessary to consider several things. One should understand visitors’ needs and expectations. As well, hospitality, respect, and honesty are often high on the list of what tourists admire. The availability of resources and daily needs (e.g. clean water, comfortable hotels, and restaurants) are also important, and they provide tourists with satisfaction while also possibly motivating them to return or encouraging others to visit. Raising levels of professionalism and improving visitor satisfaction should be key objectives of host countries and communities.

In terms of Eritrea, the country is endowed with many types of tourist attractions. Inter alia, these include the historical and cultural sites of Kohaito and Metera, the rich archeological site at Adulis, the ancient monasteries of Debrebizen, Tsaeda Emba, Debresina, Ham, and Aba-Metae, and the ancient Sahaba Mosque (thought to be the first mosque in Africa). Furthermore, the stunning landscape of the eastern escarpment and the area of Igla Demhina represent breathtaking tourist attractions.

Since the introduction of Christianity and Islam to Eritrea, the country has witnessed the construction of many monasteries and mosques. These represent both places of worship and sources of rich heritage. When the monasteries and shrines celebrate various religious days, thousands of people from all walks of life come to pay homage. With proper promotion, the religious festivities could even attract foreign tourists and contribute to the development of the country’s tourism industry (e.g. through income creation for many individuals or surrounding communities).

The ancient monasteries and mosques also have their own history to tell. If we consider the Sahaba mosque, history tells us that the first followers on the Arabian Peninsula were persecuted, and as a result they sought refuge on the other side of the Red Sea (present day Eritrea). Upon their arrival, they were accorded with a warm welcome. During their stay, they built a place of worship – Sahaba, a mosque which became the first of its kind in Africa. The mosque was built in 1400 A.D., and it represents a significant tourist attraction. The latter can also be said about other monasteries that were built by monks coming from the Middle East to spread Christianity in the region.

Beyond religious attractions, art deco buildings in the country’s urban areas are also tourist attractions. Architecture in Massawa, built during the country’s period under the Ottoman Empire, and Italian colonial-era, art deco buildings in Asmara and Keren are historic sites of ingenuity, rich culture, and diversity.

The country’s Red Sea coastline, over 1000 kilometers long and hosting awe-inspiring natural beaches, is one of the wonders in Eritrea. One can enjoy a sun bath, or dive and swim in clear, clean waters. The Red Sea is also very rich in variety of fish and colorful, unblemished coral reefs and very attractive for adventure tourists.

Most importantly, the peace and tranquility prevailing in Eritrea, and the warm hospitality of the people are the important features that may draw tourists to the country. Tourists like to visit their place of interest unhindered, with no time limitations, and with the knowledge that their stay will be enjoyable, fun, memorable, and peaceful. For that, Eritrea is just the right place.

In order for the theme of this year’s International Tourism Day (i.e. “One Million of Tourists: One million of Opportunities”) to materialize, every citizen is expected to contribute his or her share. That includes keeping the environment clean, ensuring the maintenance and safety of historical sites and ancient places of worship, and being willing to share the special features of home with others.

BOTSWANA: Domboshaba Festival Of Culture And History

Saturday, 19 September 2015

This annual cultural event is held near Domboshaba Ruins, a unique stone masonry architectural signature of the Banyayi- Bakalanga empire and civilisation which stretches from Khami Ruins near Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. Botswana Tourism sponsors the publicity and promotion of this event as it has a strategic input in the diversifications efforts through events and destination awareness of the Botswana tourism offering.

This event is hosted in partnership with the local trust, Domboshaba Cultural Trust (DCT). The event has not only grown in terms of attracting an audience from Botswana and Zimbabwe, but also activities during the cultural event allow the audience to get more exposure to the Ikalanga culture.

The event also features a 21.2km Nswazwi half marathon with the start point in Sebina and finish point in Makuta.

The exact date to be confirmed but the event will be sometime in September.
Venue: Domboshaba Ruins, Botswana

Organiser: Domboshaba Cultural Trust

East Timor: Timor-Leste Facts And History

Capital:

Dili, population about 150,000.

Government:

East Timor is a parliamentary democracy, in which the President is Head of State and the Prime Minister is Head of Government. The President is directly elected to this largely ceremonial post; he or she appoints the leader of the majority party in parliament as Prime Minister. The President serves for five years.

The Prime Minister is head of the Cabinet, or Council of State.

He also leads the single-house National Parliament.

The highest court is called the Supreme Court of Justice.

Jose Ramos-Horta is the current President of East Timor. The Prime Minister is Xanana Gusmao.

Population:

East Timor's population is around 1.2 million, although no recent census data exist. The country is growing quickly, due both to returning refugees and to a high birth rate.

The people of East Timor belong to dozens of ethnic groups, and intermarriage is common. Some of the largest are the Tetum, around 100,000 strong; the Mambae, at 80,000; the Tukudede, at 63,000; and the Galoli, Kemak, and Bunak, all with about 50,000 people.

There are also small populations of people with mixed Timorese and Portuguese ancestry, called mesticos, as well as ethnic Hakka Chinese (around 2,400 people).

Official Languages:

The official languages of East Timor are Tetum and Portuguese. English and Indonesian are "working languages."

Tetum is an Austronesian language in the Malayo-Polynesian family, related to Malagasy, Tagalog, and Hawaiian.

It is spoken by about 800,000 people world-wide.

Colonists brought Portuguese to East Timor in the sixteenth century, and the Romance language has influenced Tetum to a large degree.

Other commonly-spoken languages include Fataluku, Malalero, Bunak, and Galoli.

Religion:

An estimated 98 per cent of East Timorese are Roman Catholic, another legacy of Portuguese colonization. The remaining two per cent are divided almost evenly between Protestants and Moslems.

A significant proportion of Timorese also retain some traditional animist beliefs and customs from pre-colonial times.

Geography:

East Timor covers the eastern half of Timor, the largest of the Lesser Sunda Islands in the Malay Archipelago. It covers an area of about 14,600 square kilometers, including one non-contiguous piece called the Ocussi-Ambeno region, in the northwest of the island.

The Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara lies to the west of East Timor.

East Timor is a mountainous country; the highest point is Mount Ramelau at 2,963 meters (9,721 feet). The lowest point is sea level.

Climate:

East Timor has a tropical monsoon climate, with a wet season from December to April, and a dry season from May through November. During the wet season, average temperatures range between 29 and 35 degrees Celsius (84 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit). In the dry season, temperatures average 20 to 33 degrees Celsius (68 to 91 Fahrenheit).

The island is susceptible to cyclones. It also experiences seismic events such as earthquakes and tsunamis, as it lies on the faultlines of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Economy:

The economy of East Timor is in shambles, neglected under Portuguese rule, and deliberately sabotaged by occupation troops during the war for independence from Indonesia. As a result, the country is among the poorest in the world.

Close to half of the population lives in poverty, and as many as 70 per cent face chronic food insecurity. Unemployment hovers around the 50 per cent mark, as well. The per capita GDP was only about $750 U.S. in 2006.

East Timor's economy should improve in coming years. Plans are underway to develop off-shore oil reserves, and the price of cash crops like coffee is rising.

Prehistoric Timor:

The inhabitants of Timor are descended from three waves of migrants. The first to settle the island, Vedo-Australoid people related to Sri Lankans, arrived between 40,000 and 20,000 B.C. A second wave of Melanesian people around 3,000 B.C. drove the original inhabitants, called Atoni, up into the interior of Timor. The Melanesians were followed by Malay and Hakka people from southern China.

Most of the Timorese practiced subsistence agriculture. Frequent visits from sea-going Arab, Chinese, and Gujerati traders brought in metal goods, silks, and rice; the Timorese exported beeswax, spices, and fragrant sandalwood.

History of Timor, 1515-present:

By the time the Portuguese made contact with Timor in the early sixteenth century, it was divided into a number of small fiefdoms. The largest was the kingdom of Wehale, composed of a mixture of Tetum, Kemak, and Bunak peoples.

Portuguese explorers claimed Timor for their king in 1515, lured by the promise of spices. For the next 460 years, the Portuguese controlled the eastern half of the island, while the Dutch East India Company took the western half as part of its Indonesian holdings. The Portuguese ruled coastal regions in cooperation with local leaders, but had very little influence in the mountainous interior.

Although their hold on East Timor was tenuous, in 1702 the Portuguese officially added the region to their empire, renaming it "Portuguese Timor." Portugal used East Timor mainly as a dumping ground for exiled convicts.

The formal boundary between the Dutch and Portuguese sides of Timor was not drawn until 1916, when the modern-day border was fixed by the Hague.

In 1941, Australian and Dutch soldiers occupied Timor, hoping to fend off an anticipated invasion by the Imperial Japanese Army. Japan seized the island in February of 1942; the surviving Allied soldiers then joined with local people in guerilla war against the Japanese. Japanese reprisals against the Timorese left about one in ten of the island's population dead, a total of more than 50,000 people.

After the Japanese surrender in 1945, control of East Timor was returned to Portugal. Indonesia declared its independence from the Dutch, but made no mention of annexing East Timor.

In 1974, a coup in Portugal moved the country from a rightist dictatorship to a democracy. The new regime sought to disentangle Portugal from its overseas colonies, a move that the other European colonial powers had made some 20 years earlier. East Timor declared its independence in 1975.

In December of that year, Indonesia invaded East Timor, capturing Dili after just six hours of fighting. Jakarta declaring the region the 27th Indonesian province. This annexation, however, was not recognized by the UN.

Over the next year, between 60,000 and 100,000 Timorese were massacred by Indonesian troops, along with five foreign journalists.

Timorese guerillas kept fighting, but Indonesia did not withdraw until after the fall of Suharto in 1998. When the Timorese voted for independence in an August, 1999 referendum, Indonesian troops destroyed the country's infrastructure.

East Timor joined the UN on September 27, 2002.