The content creators, who included Wellington Bakaimani, Privilege Kudakwashe Rashman, Enerst Mavaza and Tanatswa Elizabeth Fukiza, among others, met the Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Zimbabwe, Mr Hamid Bakhtiyar, this Thursday, the 20^th February 2025, at the Cultural Centre offices to express their gratitude to the Islamic Republic of Iran for facilitating their travel to the Persian country and for being accorded the warm hospitality.

In his remarks, Mr Bakhtiyar said the group’s maiden visit to Iran will open new areas of cooperation between Zimbabwe and the Islamic Republic of Iran as the content creators will be marketing both Iran and Zimbabwe as top tourist destinations.

He said the Cultural Centre of the Embassy of Iran intends to engage more with the people of Zimbabwe to enable them to get an understanding and appreciation of the Iranian cultural practices and traditions.

Mr Bakhtiyar said he was pleased that the content creators were able to get an appreciation of the Iranian cultural practices, as they define who the Iranian people are and what they stand for.

The Cultural Counsellor said he expects the content creators to play a more meaningful and critical role in cultural exchange programs through the soon to be relaunched Zimbabwe - Iran Friendship Association.

Responding to Mr Bakhtiyar’s remarks, the team leader, Mr Wellington Bakaimani noted that their interactions with officials from various cities and bodies as well as with the ordinary people gave them a deep understanding of the Islamic Republic’s simple way of living, a way of living anchored on their deep cultural heritage, traditions and beliefs.

He said they were deeply impressed by the way they were welcomed and received by all the Iranians they came into contact with.

Mr Bakaimani said their visit to Imam Khomeini’s home (now a museum), and the narration given to them on how Imam Khomeini was able to lead the struggle leading to the proclamation of the success of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 was an eye opener.

He said that during their stay in Iran, they visited three cities, namely Iran, Kashan, Isfahan and also had a stop over in the holy city of Qom.

Team member Tanatswa Fukiza said she was impressed by Iran’s architectural designs on most of its buildings.

Kuda Rashman said the team’s visit to Iran was a life changing scenario, as they stand to benefit from the many business and social contacts that they made during their stay in Iran.

He said Iran has managed to defy all odds and managed to transform itself into a highly developed country despite the effects of the sanctions that were imposed on the country by America and her allies.

Rashman said Iran boasts of some of the top medical facilities in the world, factors that make Iran a top medical tourism destination.

He said their visit to the Islamic Republic had changed a lot of perceptions that they had before travelling to Iran.

The content creators called for the establishment of Persian language classes at the Cultural Centre of the Embassy of Iran and are also keen to learn the Persian language so as to facilitate communication channels between themselves and other Iranian cultural and business people that they would be interacting with in future.

Mr Bakhtiyar said plans are underway to teach the language in Zimbabwe.