Bunjiwe Mkwananzi
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu [email protected]
GWANDA is today hosting a cultural festival aimed at celebrating the district’s rich cultural heritage while promoting culture as a catalyst for economic development and regional integration.
Organised by the Municipality of Gwanda, the festival is being held under the theme: “Our Culture, Our Economy: Bridging Heritage and Prosperity Across the Trans-Limpopo Region.”
The event, taking place at the town’s Cultural Centre, has brought together traditional leaders, artists, cultural practitioners, exhibitors and members of the public in a colourful showcase of indigenous traditions, music, dance, food, crafts and storytelling.
The Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Albert Nguluvhe, is the guest of honour.
The festival seeks to demonstrate how cultural heritage can contribute to sustainable economic growth by promoting cultural tourism, supporting local artists and entrepreneurs, and strengthening cross-border cultural ties within the Trans-Limpopo region.
Organisers said the celebrations are designed to ensure that cultural traditions are not only preserved for future generations but also harnessed as valuable economic assets capable of creating employment and improving livelihoods.
The programme features traditional dance performances, music, exhibitions of locally produced crafts and artworks, indigenous cuisine, storytelling sessions and other activities highlighting the diverse cultural heritage of Matabeleland South.
The celebration also resonates with Zimbabwe’s commitment to promoting cultural diversity in line with the UNESCO-declared World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
Across Zimbabwe, cultural festivals continue to play a vital role in preserving oral history, indigenous knowledge systems, languages and spiritual beliefs while fostering social cohesion and national identity.
They are also increasingly being recognised as important drivers of sustainable tourism, community development and the growth of the country’s creative economy.
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