Minister hails First Family on cultural preservation

Runesu Gwidi
Masvingo Bureau
As Zimbabwe celebrates the cultural week, the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamira has praised the First Family for championing cultural programmes.

The Cultural Week celebrations, which are a reflection of Zimbabwe’s arts and cultural diversity, kicked off on Saturday and are under the theme: “Zimbabwe@40: Celebrating our cultural diversity and heritage”.

Minister Chadzamira said cultural initiatives by First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, with support from President Mnangagwa, were critical in fighting cultural imperialism.

Cultural imperialism is broadly defined as the domination of one culture, especially a weaker local culture by a stronger foreign culture.

“The domination of local culture takes place in various forms.

“For instance, clothing, food, literary arts and music which are key elements of culture,” said Minister Chadzamira.

He said adopting foreign cultures was “dangerous” as that may lead to total loss of cultural identity and negatively affect the socio-economic pattern.

“The First Family has so far launched programmes such as traditional cooking, national dress code, Nhanga and Gota concept, among others.

“These programmes are quite key for Zimbabweans.

“Once all citizens adopt and cling to these cultural programmes, cultural imperialism will not find its way into our societies,” he said.