Story by Fungai Jachi
THE Government has intensified efforts to document and preserve Zimbabwe’s Intangible Cultural Heritage as part of a broader strategy to safeguard the country’s cultural identity for future generations.
The ongoing national programme has reached Mwenezi District in Masvingo Province, where communities are working with Government officials to compile an inventory of local cultural practices, traditions and forms of cultural expression.
Intangible Cultural Heritage encompasses elements such as dance, music, language, customs and indigenous knowledge systems. Zimbabwe ratified the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010, reinforcing its commitment to preserving cultural traditions.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Mr Nicholas Moyo said documenting cultural heritage is essential to protecting Zimbabwe’s identity and ensuring that valuable knowledge is passed on to future generations.
“It has become very important that we safeguard our culture and preserve it for future generations. Our target as a ministry is that after every training programme, each province should be able to document about 50 elements. We want to create a repository of our intangible cultural heritage as a country and establish a database that captures our cultural heritage.
“This initiative also supports the heritage-based curriculum, enabling young people to access and download cultural information online from wherever they are,” he said.
Traditional leaders welcomed the initiative, saying it will help strengthen appreciation of local values and traditions among younger generations.
“We are very happy as traditional leaders to have such an initiative that promotes our cultural beliefs and norms. This will enable young people to develop a greater appreciation of our local culture and traditions,” Traditional Leader, William Mukazvi said.
Researchers have also praised the programme for creating opportunities to record and preserve cultural knowledge from community custodians.
“This initiative allows us to safeguard our traditions in our province. As a researcher, it was an opportunity to have insight from the custodians of these cultural values and norms. We are now looking forward to going and documenting these practices for future use,” Great Zimbabwe University Lecturer Dr Shadreck Dzingai said.
Young people participating in the programme say cultural knowledge can play a vital role in shaping positive behaviour and decision-making.
“As young people, it is important that we understand the elements of Intangible Cultural Heritage, as they help guide us as we navigate life. I am confident that our traditions can help us avoid immoral behaviour, particularly drug and substance abuse,” Junior MP Honourable Mercy Takaendesa said.
The documentation initiative complements other Government programmes aimed at preserving Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage, including the Heritage-Based Curriculum in schools and the annual Culture Month commemorations held every May.
Authorities say these efforts are critical in promoting cultural diversity, social cohesion and sustainable development while ensuring Zimbabwe’s rich cultural traditions remain accessible to future generations.
