Story by Tamuka Charakupa
VICE President Cde Kembo Mohadi has implored the nation to uphold traditional practises as government forges ahead with promoting national identity.
He was speaking at the National Culture Month commemorations held in Chipinge this Friday.
Mariga Primary School in Chipinge South was full of life this Friday as it hosted the National Culture Month Commemorations under the theme “Our Culture, building Zimbabwe Brick by Brick.”
The commemorations brought together various players and stakeholders in the arts and culture industry, with traditional products and cultural exchange taking centre stage.
The Vice President highlighted the importance of the commemorations in preserving the country’s cultural heritage.
“It is only through this cultural renaissance that we are undertaking as Zimbabweans to celebrate our cultural heritage. As we do so, let us not tire to involve our children and youth who make the bulk of our population today. We should continually school them to appreciate our being African and our unique ways as a people because there is an enemy out there who is hell-bent on undermining and eliminating us.
When we transmit these teachings and embed the cultural practices every day, our children will also ensure that this African pride and heritage will live on into posterity wish to continually challenge our creative youth, be they out of school or in school, college, and or university, to continually harness the new media in creating commercial products that not only promote the consumption of our cultural heritage, but to also venture into cultural heritage business,” he said.
Stakeholders agreed that the event comes at a time when the nation has shifted its focus towards reviving Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage to enhance our national identity.
The Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Dr Kirsty Coventry said, “Culture month commemorations are a key component for the nation as we seek to foster social cohesion and integration of our citizens from all walks of life through celebrating our arts and culture. The month-long celebrations are aimed at showcasing the country’s diverse cultural practices and in the process increasing their consumption.
It is also our wish Honourable VP to continue audiences-building for this critical sector of our economy and as such we will continue to court the private sector, the corporate sector and civic society to partner with us in celebrating and making a difference to communities.”
“The decision to take the National Launch of the Culture month to this part of the country is indeed in line with the spirit of devolution and decentralisation where sub-national level is now expected to play a much more prominent role in facilitating and driving the national agenda. Manicaland visibly stands out due to its very distinct rich Ndau and Manyika languages, the popular traditional dances and the resilient and famous African traditional medicine, particularly in Chipinge district,” said Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza.
National Culture Month was first launched in 2021 as part of the government’s efforts to promote the country’s national identity.
