Moffat Mungazi
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MUTARE City Junior Council has kickstarted the 2025 edition of the Jewel of the East (Visual Art) Drawing/Painting Competition by inviting children and young people residing within Mutare to participate.
In a statement, the Junior Council wrote: “This competition seeks to promote child and youth engagement in local governance by recognizing them as valuable partners, rights-holders, and active citizens.
“It emphasises their role as equal contributors who have the ability to influence service delivery and decision-making processes in the city. Additionally, this initiative provides an opportunity for young participants to actively contribute to the planning and development efforts of the City Council.”
The theme for this year’s competition is ‘My Favourite City Landmark’.
Further reads the statement: “The theme for the 2025 competition is “My Favourite City Landmark,” inviting children and young people to creatively express their connection to Mutare by submitting Artwork of their most cherished City Landmark.
“Participants are encouraged to explore and identify iconic features within Mutare, whether they are architectural marvels like buildings or bridges, natural wonders such as rivers and hills, vibrant cultural symbols, or even scenes capturing the bustling energy of social city life. Landmarks can also reflect unique night time views, historical significance, or everyday places that resonate with personal meaning.
“This year’s competition aims not only to celebrate Mutare’s diverse identity but also to inspire young artists to appreciate and highlight the landmarks that define their city while showcasing their artistic talents.”
The statement further notes that this year’s theme aligns with the City of Mutare’s hosting of the 2025 Zimbabwe’s Premier Tourism Showcase “Sanganayi/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo”.
“To commemorate this occasion, the best drawings or paintings from the competition will be carefully curated and compiled into a city art book”. This art book will serve as a vibrant visual representation of how children and young people perceive and celebrate their city’s landmarks. It will be proudly displayed at the Expo, offering both local and international visitors a chance to appreciate Mutare through the eyes of its talented youth while promoting the City as a hub of creativity, culture, and tourism,” reads the statement.
The drawing/painting competition has six categories that include infant category (ECD–Grade Two), Grade Three to Grade Five as well as Grade Six and Seven.
“These categories are specifically designed for Early Childhood Development (ECD) to Grade 7 pupils and the focus for 2025 is Nature-based Landmarks within the City of Mutare.
“Participants in this category are encouraged to explore and artistically depict the city’s breath-taking natural features, such as the majestic mountains, serene parks, lush gardens, and other scenic spots that highlight Mutare’s reputation as the “Gateway to the Eastern Highlands.”
“This category aims to foster a deeper appreciation for the environment and inspire young artists to celebrate the beauty of nature while showcasing their creativity through drawings or paintings of these iconic landmarks,” reads the statement.
“Category Four is designed for Form 1 to Form 2 pupils, encouraging them to artistically capture Mutare’s Cultural Landmarks. Participants will depict iconic sites, such as historical buildings, museums, or event spaces, reflecting the City’s heritage and traditions. By focusing on these landmarks, the category aims to deepen students’ understanding of their cultural identity while celebrating the diverse stories and values that make Mutare unique.
“Category Five is designed for Form Three to Form Four pupils and centers on Infrastructure Landmarks in Mutare, including architectural marvels such as buildings, bridges, and other significant structures. These landmarks can be either historical or modern, showcasing the city’s evolution and progress.
“The category emphasizes the vital role these structures play in connecting communities, driving development, and shaping Mutare’s unique identity.
“Through their creative artwork, students are encouraged to celebrate the innovation, resilience, and modernity of the city’s built environment while expressing their personal perspectives and artistic vision.
“Category Six is tailored for Form 5 to Form 6 pupils and offers two exciting focus areas for exploring landmarks in the City of Mutare. The first area highlights Nighttime Landmarks, encouraging students to capture the enchanting beauty of the City after dark, such as illuminated buildings, or scenic spots that come alive under the stars.
“The second area focuses on People Landmarks, celebrating the vibrant, bustling social life that defines Mutare – markets, public gatherings, festivals, or everyday scenes of community interaction. Students are invited to choose one of these themes to depict in their artwork, allowing them to express their unique perspective on what makes Mutare dynamic and captivating, whether through its glowing nocturnal charm or its energetic human spirit.
Among the competition rules and guidelines is: “It is open to children ordinarily residents of the City of Mutare and the competition welcomes artworks created in any medium, providing participants with the flexibility to express their creativity.
“The artwork may be produced using wet or dry media, such as paints, inks, pencils, or pastels, on a variety of paper types, including bond paper, sinacoat, or manila.
“The size of the art paper varies by category: For Categories 1 to 3, the standard size is A4. For Category 4, participants are required to use A3-sized art paper. In Categories 5 and 6, the artwork must be created on A2-sized paper. Each individual student is allowed only one entry. Artwork must be the Child/Young person’s Work. If an entered artwork is found to have been copied on the internet, from another artist or writer, the work will be disqualified from the Competition.”
Online Reporter