Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu
Bulawayo Bureau
BULAWAYO’s reputation as Zimbabwe’s cultural heartbeat took centre stage this week as Government officials, traditional leaders, heritage experts and cultural practitioners converged at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo for the official launch of an awareness-raising seminar on the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The seminar, which forms part of a nationwide campaign to educate communities about the importance of preserving living heritage, underscored the growing recognition that Zimbabwe’s traditions, oral histories, performing arts and indigenous knowledge systems are not relics of the past, but vital assets capable of driving national development, social cohesion and economic growth.
Delivering the keynote address, the Permanent Secretary for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Nicholas Moyo, described the initiative as a significant milestone in Zimbabwe’s efforts to safeguard its cultural identity while ensuring that communities become active participants in preserving their own heritage.
Addressing an audience that included Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Hon Judith Mkwanda Ncube represented by Paul Nyoni, the Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, traditional leaders led by Chief Deli, senior Government officials, representatives from UNESCO, the National Gallery of Zimbabwe and the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Moyo said the project reflected Government’s commitment to placing communities at the centre of cultural preservation.
“It is with a sense of belonging and humility that I stand before you today in Bulawayo to officiate the opening of this important awareness-raising seminar on the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. This event is a significant step in our collective efforts to preserve and promote the traditions and cultures of Zimbabweans,” he said.
The awareness campaign, titled, “Awareness Raising on the Importance of the UNESCO 2003 Convention on Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage among Traditional Leadership and Local Communities in Zimbabwe,” has already been rolled out in eight provinces, with Bulawayo becoming the ninth province to host the programme.
Moyo said the initiative embodies President Mnangagwa’s mantra, “Ilizwe Lakhiwa Ngabanini Balo”, by encouraging communities to take ownership of preserving their own cultural heritage.
He explained that the UNESCO Convention recognises living cultural expressions that are transmitted from one generation to another, including oral traditions, performing arts, rituals, festive events, social practices, traditional craftsmanship and indigenous knowledge relating to nature and the universe.
Zimbabwe ratified the UNESCO Convention in 2010, committing itself to protecting intangible cultural heritage through legislative, institutional and community-based mechanisms.
To strengthen implementation of the convention, Government established the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee, a body mandated to provide technical expertise, advise Government on heritage issues and spearhead public awareness initiatives across the country.
According to Moyo, the committee continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring communities understand both the value and the vulnerability of living heritage in an increasingly globalised world.
“This seminar is a crucial platform to raise awareness about the Convention and its relevance to our urban communities. It is an opportunity to reflect on how we can collectively protect and promote our living heritage while ensuring its transmission to future generations, even as we live in a global village,” he said.
Recognising that language remains central to effective community participation, Moyo revealed that summary versions of the UNESCO Convention have been translated into several indigenous languages, including Ndebele, Tonga, Kalanga, Sotho, Khoisan and Zimbabwean Sign Language.
The translations are intended to improve accessibility, particularly for local communities and persons with disabilities, ensuring that no Zimbabwean is excluded from participating in heritage preservation efforts.
The project itself represents a major investment in Zimbabwe’s cultural future.
Moyo disclosed that UNESCO, through the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund, has contributed US$321 339 towards the initiative, while the Government of Zimbabwe has committed an additional US$240 515,20, demonstrating a shared commitment to safeguarding the country’s living heritage.
He said one of the programme’s long-term objectives is the establishment of Provincial Community Intangible Cultural Heritage Steering Committees in every province.
These committees will coordinate community awareness programmes, develop action plans, strengthen capacity-building initiatives and promote appreciation of cultural diversity at local level.
Turning to Zimbabwe’s achievements on the international stage, Moyo highlighted the country’s growing recognition under UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Zimbabwe has already secured inscription for the Mbira/Sansi musical tradition and the Jerusarema Mbende Dance, achievements he said demonstrate the richness and global significance of the country’s cultural expressions.
