Story by Oleen Ndori
VICE President Colonel (Retired) Dr Kembo Mohadi says Zimbabwe’s cultural and creative industries remain a key pillar in the country’s drive towards attaining upper-middle-income status by 2030.
He made the remarks during a visit to the Zimbabwe Pavilion at the ongoing 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in Italy, where local artists are showcasing Zimbabwe’s identity, creativity and artistic talent on one of the world’s leading cultural platforms.
Zimbabwe’s participation aligns with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which identifies the creative and cultural industries as drivers of economic growth, innovation, employment creation and cultural diplomacy.
After touring the pavilion, Vice President Mohadi said culture is central to national identity and must be preserved as Zimbabwe advances towards Vision 2030.
“A person without culture, without a background, is not recognised. Culture gives people identity. As we pursue Vision 2030, we moved from the Transitional Stabilisation Programme to NDS1 and now NDS2. As we move from one strategy to another, we benchmark and review our performance so that we continue improving.
“We are working towards attaining that vision, and Zimbabweans are the ones who must tell their own story,” he said.
He said Zimbabwe’s participation at the Venice Biennale demonstrates the country’s commitment to cultural diplomacy while creating opportunities for local artists to gain international recognition, attract investment and access wider markets.
Vice President Mohadi added that preserving Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage should go hand in hand with promoting contemporary artistic expression, describing the creative economy as an important pillar of sustainable development under NDS2.
“Italy is known for its cultural diversity and has preserved its heritage for generations. Although Zimbabwe is a young nation, we can learn from how they have protected their artefacts and heritage. We also need to preserve ours. We are learning a lot and we will get there, better late than never,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Pavilion continues to attract visitors at the Venice Biennale, strengthening the country’s international cultural footprint while supporting the Second Republic’s engagement and re-engagement agenda through arts and culture.
