Chronicle Editor
Vusumuzi Dube/Bongani Ndlovu, Chronicle Reporters
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is committed to promoting and safeguarding the country’s arts, culture and heritage for the socio-economic upliftment of the entire citizenry, Vice-President Dr Constantino Chiwenga said yesterday.
Speaking at the official opening ceremony of the Bulawayo Arts Festival (Baf), VP Chiwenga said he was extremely proud to serve under the President’s visionary leadership, singling him out as being the brains behind the festival which is in its second year running.
He further paid tribute to the strides that were being accomplished by Zimbabweans in their continued support of the arts sector.
“The Baf is in its second year running. It is taking place as a result of our President’s pronouncement in 2019 at the second cultural and creative industries indaba, which took place in this beautiful City of Kings and Queens.
“Through his leadership, President Mnangagwa directed that the Bulawayo Arts Festival be held annually and in the month of June, in this cultural capital of Zimbabwe. He also pronounced that the annual national arts festival be hosted rotationally in the ten administrative provinces of Zimbabwe,” said VP Chiwenga.
He noted that there was a need for every Zimbabwean to play an active role in maintaining the various heritage sites in the country so that they do not lose their historical and socio-economic significance.
VP Chiwenga said there was a need to safeguard these as the arts, culture and heritage of a nation are the products of tourist consumption.
“Indeed, the City of Bulawayo and other local authorities as custodians of our cultural heritage sites should be thanked for maintaining these cherished places so that they do not lose their historical and socio-economic significance.
“Our cultural strides should always remain immortal and stand tall as beacons of our history and collective memory. As we celebrate them, we do so through song, dance and storytelling as well as make them viewable,” he said.
The Vice-President further commended the President for his continued move to ensure that heroes and heroines of the country’s struggle for liberation were honoured, to serve as a reminder of the journey the country has taken to self-determination.
“Befittingly this year’s edition of the Baf coincides with the historical unveiling of the statue of Nehanda the iconic heroine of the First Chimurenga, her legacy was on the brink of being forgotten if we were to go by the wishes of our colonisers.
“Through the leadership of our President, Government is in the process of honouring the country’s other heroes and heroines in our struggle for self-determination. Here in Matabeleland Government will honour, among others, General Mtshana Khumalo, who gallantly led the defeat of the colonisers at the battle of Pupu,” he said.
VP Chiwenga revealed that the President has directed Government to continue supporting the arts and culture sector through implementing various programmes such as establishing an arts and culture development fund as well as establishing provincial arts and cultural hubs and community clubs.
He further noted that the Government was forging ahead with the restoration works at the Old Bulawayo heritage site.
Speaking at the same occasion Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, reiterated VP Chiwenga’s sentiments saying that it was no fluke that the visit to the city coincided with the unveiling of Mbuya Nehanda statue in Harare last month, noting that this showed the Government’ commitment to preserving the nation’s historical and cultural heritage.
Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Mangaliso Ndhlovu said the promotion of arts and culture are pivotal in driving tourism growth.
Minister Ndhlovu said the tourism landscape in Bulawayo during the festival has changed with the visit of the President.
“I’m pleased to be part of this momentous occasion where the highest office in the land retraced the heritage trail of our people. And in the process opening up numerous opportunities for tourism product diversification and promotion. What happened today distinguished guests permanently changes the tourism architecture of the city of Kings and Queens. We are grateful to you your Excellency.
“It is therefore befitting that today you lead in showcasing this symbiotic relationship particularly the richness of this city of Bulawayo in culture and creative industries which then gives us a single task of packaging this advantage for tourism purposes,” said Minister Ndhlovu.
The minister said although last year there were subdued tourist arrivals, domestic tourism was on the increase, commending the President for his vision.
“In 2020 as a country, we did not reach the revised modest tourist arrivals target of 920 000 people; managing only 639 356 arrivals which is a 72 percent decline compared to the same period in 2019. This, of course, was because of the global travel restrictions and national efforts to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I’m however, delighted to note that your vision and leadership, espoused in the National Tourism Recovery and Growth strategy which you launched in the Victoria Falls in August 2020, has contributed immensely in offering quick turnaround solutions to the tourism industry,” he said.
Minister Ndhlovu said each province will have its own video footage marketing its tourist destinations in line with President’s devolution policy.
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