Carnival goers smoke marijuana in street

Deputy minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Walter Kanhanga yesterday told Senate that some foreign participants to the just ended Harare International Carnival attempted to smoke marijuana during the street parade.

Kanhanga disclosed this while answering to questions from senators during a question and answer session who queried if the event could be considered a good cultural event as some costumes were almost in birthday suits where some participants marched half undressed.

Deputy Minister Kanhanga was also grilled on why his Ministry did not include traditional leaders who are the custodians of culture if according to event organisers, the event had to do with culture. This was raised during question and answer session in the Senate.

"Yes, in our culture it is bad to see people undressed, but in this case we were celebrating cultural diversity," said Deputy Minister Kanhanga.

Chiefs council president Fortune Charumbira accused the organisers of the carnival of being hypocritical by portraying the event as cultural, yet no traditional leaders were invited. Kanhanga apologised to the chiefs for the oversight.