Auxillia Mnangagwa Wastes Cash On Masvingo Cook Out As Local Hospitals Grapple With Shortage Of Drugs – Eduzim News

Tinashe Sambiri – The Amai’s Traditional Cook-Out Competition held at Masvingo Polytechnic last week has sparked outrage, with critics accusing authorities of reckless spending while the country’s collapsing health sector continues to leave patients stranded without essential drugs.

The event, spearheaded by First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, brought together 46 contestants from communities, persons with disabilities, tertiary institutions, and professional chefs.

While it was marketed as a celebration of culture, many Zimbabweans see it as a costly public relations exercise at a time when survival has become a daily struggle.

The competition was officiated by the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi, alongside the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamira, and other senior government officials.

As officials toured the colourful food displays—featuring a wide range of traditional dishes prepared with indigenous ingredients—critics say the extravagance stood in painful contrast to the situation in public hospitals across Zimbabwe, where patients are reportedly being turned away or forced to buy their own medication due to shortages.

Observers have directly accused the government of misplaced priorities, arguing that funds used for such events could have been redirected to struggling hospitals. “This is a clear case of misplaced priorities,” one critic said. “Millions are being poured into cooking competitions while hospitals have no painkillers, no antibiotics, nothing.”

Officials defended the programme, praising its focus on preserving traditional cuisine and highlighting its nutritional and medicinal value. However, that justification has done little to silence growing anger.

“What is the point of talking about ‘nutritional and medicinal value’ of traditional food when people cannot even access basic treatment in hospitals?” another critic questioned. “This is not just insensitive, it is a reflection of a leadership that is out of touch with reality.”

The event has intensified debate over government spending, with many Zimbabweans saying it reflects a broader pattern of neglect and excess amid an ongoing economic and political crisis that continues to push essential services to the brink.

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