When Lusaka Met Zimbabwe: Bakers Take Their Craft Across Borders

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Harare

R.G. Mugabe International Airport was awash with orange as 30 Zimbabwean bakers prepared to depart for Zambia, carrying matching T-shirts, blue overalls, hard hats and dreams bigger than the journey ahead.

The orange symbolised courage, while the hard hats represented the hard work behind their craft. The group, comprising confectionery professionals from Bridal Innovations International Academy, was embarking on an international learning and cultural exchange experience designed to showcase Zimbabwean baking talent while exposing participants to new techniques, flavours and business opportunities.

Led by the academy's Chief Executive Officer, Ms Indra Chinyerere, the delegation is expected to engage with Zambian counterparts, exchange expertise and explore the possibilities of cross-border collaboration in the confectionery industry. For Bridal Innovations Academy, however, the journey represents much more than a visit to another country. It is an investment in skills, confidence, entrepreneurship and the future of Zimbabwe's baking industry.

Speaking on the vision behind the trip, Mildith Chinyerere, Principal and one of the Directors at Bridal Innovations Academy, said the academy was thinking beyond the classroom, beyond examinations and beyond the usual routine of mixing, baking and decorating, because she believes true learning happens when bakers step out of their comfort zones and meet the world face to face.

"As Principal and one of the Directors, my vision has always been bigger than the classroom. I wanted our bakers to see the world, to learn from other cultures and to bring that knowledge back home. Today, Zambia is not just a trip. It is an investment in our students, in our academy, and in Zimbabwe," she said.

It is more than a trip, it is a classroom without walls where ovens become teachers and recipes become a language everyone understands, and every lesson learned in Zambia is meant to be carried back home to kitchens across Zimbabwe.

Among the travellers was Gertrude Mukaro, whose eyes were shining with pride and disbelief as she stood with her bags packed and her heart full, because for her this was not just a flight to another country, it was proof that hard work, patience and passion can carry a baker from a small kitchen to an international stage.

"I am really grateful for this opportunity. It is going to be life-changing, and an experience worth the while. This is a milestone for me as a baker, to be hoisting my nation's flag," she said.

Her words captured the mood of the whole group, a mixture of gratitude, nerves and excitement, as bakers who have spent years perfecting their craft at home finally got the chance to test themselves, to learn from others and to show the region what Zimbabwean hands can create.

Carrying that same spirit forward was CEO of Sikmar Cakes and Events, Martha Sikhoya, who spoke with the confidence of a businesswoman who knows exactly what this journey means for her brand, her team and her country, because she was not travelling as a tourist, she was travelling as an ambassador of Zimbabwean flavour, presentation and hospitality.

"Today we are going to represent our nation as bakers. This will be a learning curve, as well as a cultural food tourism experience. We are going to taste Zambian food, learn how they bake, how they plate, how they present and how they tell their story through food. In return, we will share our own Zimbabwean flavours, our cakes, our techniques and our traditions. Food is tourism. When people taste what we make, they taste where we come from," she said.

The journey is about skill, but it is also about culture. Food tells a story, and these bakers are ready to tell Zimbabwe's story, one slice at a time.

Rounding off the voices with pride and fire was Tecla Mangwendeza, CEO of Renowned Fame Lounge, bold, unapologetic and suave, from the rocky, hilly, dusty town of Domboshava, who walked with her head high as a daughter of the soil, determined to carry the name of her hometown across the border and to prove that talent does not only live in the city, it also rises from the rocky hills and dusty roads of Domboshava.

"Firstly, I am proudly from Domboshava and a proud baker. Today we are flying not only to represent ourselves, but our academy, our companies, and mostly our nation," she said.

"This is a milestone for us, as we will learn, network, and also increase our clientele. We will meet new customers, build new partnerships, and open doors for our businesses back home. Domboshava is on the map today," she added.

The journey to Zambia highlights the importance of investing in practical skills, international exposure and regional cooperation among small businesses. For the 30 bakers, the experience offers an opportunity to sharpen their craft, exchange ideas and build professional relationships that could benefit their businesses and the wider industry.

For Bridal Innovations Academy, it is also a statement of confidence in Zimbabwean talent and the ability of local entrepreneurs to compete, collaborate and grow beyond national borders.

As the delegation carries its orange colours, blue overalls and baking ambitions into Zambia, its message is unmistakable: Zimbabwe has talent worth sharing.

And this time, the country's story will be told through sugar, spice, creativity, flavour and everything cakey.

Zimbabwean bakers in Zambia