Hopefully, a new and better way of doing things

Raisedon Baya

THE past two weeks have indeed been nothing but surreal for Zimbabweans all over the world. In the language of the arts perhaps “a real life drama” with a global audience. Events of the last two weeks had all the highs and lows of a well-crafted drama — an epic. It was high drama but a very peaceful one. The peace during the past two weeks’ events left many in Africa and beyond green with envy. Zimbabweans went into the streets and on social media and made demands — they wanted their country back! Days later they were back in same streets and same platforms singing and dancing to a new era and new democracy.

Unbelievable. No one would have imagined it the way it happened. As I write this article a new President has been sworn in, and Zimbabweans from all walks of life and even political divide are excited about this new development. There is hope for a better future and better Zimbabwe; hope as thick as smoke from an oil fire.

We are also hopeful that Zimbabwean artistes were not just observing the events but were recording and taking notes — for many stories will be told about the last two weeks — novels, plays, songs, films, paintings inspired by the last two weeks.

Anyway, the whole country has so much expectations. Obviously, after the new President is sworn in, he will then appoint a new Cabinet. This new Cabinet is expected to push the country’s new vision. In all honesty, we are not expecting a 100 percent shift from Zanu-PF policies. But if the President is serious about economic growth and job creation the first step would be to come up with a lean and more effective cabinet. I submit some should be done away with.

Zimbabweans expect something that will give us hope that we have turned a new leaf. On his return from his brief exile, Cde Mnangagwa promised Zimbabweans jobs and we believe he meant across all sectors. As artistes we want jobs but jobs for artistes will only be created by a ministry that understands the arts. We urge the President, when selecting his new Cabinet to also think arts and culture.

In the past whenever there was a Cabinet reshuffle the arts and culture found itself moved from one ministry to another and this hindered the progress in the sector. Remember, first arts and culture was just an addendum of education. Then it was moved to Sports, Arts and Culture — where first priority was sports, then it was totally buried under Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of Cultural Heritage, then during the last Cabinet reshuffle was moved again to Sports and Culture.

We now appeal to the new President to show commitment to the arts and culture sector by either giving it a full ministry of its own or putting it under a parent ministry that will see it blossom and reach its full potential. We envisage a full ministry with its own budget, a ministry that will be able to make things happen. The sector must create meaningful jobs for many of our talented youths out there. The arts must be part and parcel of changing the Zimbabwean narratives. Arts and culture must be used to woo tourists into the country. Arts and culture must be in the forefront of rebranding Zimbabwe.

As I write there are plans to launch the National Cultural Policy. It is a document the sector has been patiently waiting for as it will give guidance to all players — practitioners, funders and government department – in terms of priority areas and the national vision. It is our hope that this will not be shelved and the document put aside and then allowed to gather dust. If this were to happen, it will be a big set-back for the arts and culture sector in general.