Culture should be marketable: VP Mphoko

Stephen Ephraem
COMMUNITIES in Southern Africa have been called on to attract tourist through marketing of their cultural initiatives.
This was said by Vice-President Ce Phelekezela Mphoko while addressing a cultural fair at Chishamiso Stadium in Chiredzi last Saturday.
The fair named Great Limpopo Cultural Fair is a regional cultural trade platform, which brings together communities from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland.
It ran under the theme: “Improving rural livelihoods through cultural entrepreneurship.”
Said VP Mphoko: “We need this kind of innovation to create employment and business enterprises that are grounded on our cultural values.
“Our women, people living with disabilities and youths engage in this industry without any tangible benefit to themselves and their communities.
“I urge all stakeholders in the implementation of the Great Limpopo Trans-Frontier Conservation Area to take necessary steps that ensure that our communities derive tangible benefit from this agreement.”
The initiative came into existence following the signing of the Great Limpopo Trans-Frontier Park agreement by Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa in 2002, which joins together Gonarezhou, Limpopo and Kruger National Parks respectively.
A cultural business forum in which the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture Dr Thokozile Chitepo gave a keynote address was held at Triangle Country Club to develop practical ways of equipping communities with marketing expertise and necessary networks.