Victoria Falls Food & Wine Festival to showcase Zimbabwean rabbit meat in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

By Staff Reporter — Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Thousands of visitors to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, are expected to sample Zimbabwean rabbit meat at the Victoria Falls Food & Wine Festival (October 8–11), as the country positions rabbit production as a flagship agricultural and culinary product for Africa and global markets. Festival organisers and industry leaders say the event will spotlight rabbit meat’s health benefits, sustainability, and export potential while promoting Zimbabwe’s rabbit value chain.

“This festival gives us a powerful opportunity to introduce rabbit meat to an international audience while marketing Zimbabwe’s rabbit industry, which is one of the most organised and developed in Africa,” said Regis Nyamakanga, president of the Zimbabwe Commercial Rabbit Breeders Association, placing the product at the centre of the festival’s trade and tourism agenda. Nyamakanga highlighted rabbit meat’s efficient production cycle and suitability for modern consumer trends.

Festival organiser Patrick Musonza confirmed strong international participation and framed the event as a vehicle for economic diplomacy. “We have confirmation from more than 10 African countries participating in the 2026 edition of the festival,” Musonza said. “The theme ‘Flavours of Africa: Innovation, Sustainability and Cultural Exchange’ positions food as a driver of economic growth, cultural diplomacy and regional integration.”

Rabbit meat is promoted at the festival as a healthy, low‑fat protein and a sustainable alternative livestock option that requires less land and feed than larger animals. Chefs and producers will present live cooking demonstrations and tasting sessions that emphasise rabbit’s culinary versatility and nutritional profile, targeting both domestic consumers and export buyers from the UK, EU, and regional markets.

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Organisers say the festival aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy by promoting value addition, agro‑industrialisation, youth participation, and tourism growth. Musonza explained how the festival supports export‑led development and job creation: “Through food, wine, culture and the creative economy, the festival supports Agenda 2063’s vision of an integrated, prosperous and people‑driven Africa, while advancing Zimbabwe’s NDS priorities on tourism growth, agricultural value chains, job creation and export‑led development.”

The multi‑day programme will include chef showcases, food exhibitions, wine tastings, cultural performances, and curated experiences designed to attract culinary tourists to Victoria Falls and to create market linkages for rabbit producers across Matabeleland North and national value chains.

Nyamakanga emphasised that Zimbabwe’s rabbit industry is organised and ready to scale: breeders are restructuring value chains, improving standards, and exploring export certification to meet international food‑safety requirements. The festival will host business‑to‑business sessions for producers, exporters, and buyers to discuss certification, cold‑chain logistics, and regional market access.

Set against the backdrop of Victoria Falls, the festival aims to blend culinary innovation with cultural exchange. Attendees can expect live demonstrations by leading chefs, fashion showcases, and performances that celebrate African flavours and traditions. Organisers encourage local producers from surrounding districts to participate in trade fairs and buyer meetings to maximise the festival’s economic impact.