President to launch 2023 culture month in Binga

Sikhumbuzo Moyo

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa will officially launch the 2023 edition of Culture Month at Kariyangwe Secondary School in Binga District on May 27 after Cabinet approved the hosting of the 2023 edition of the National Culture Month celebrations.

The day is designed to promote, commemorate and celebrate the world’s diverse cultures.

The Culture Month offers a window to promote and showcase the diversity of Zimbabwean culture encompassing both the indigenous and contemporary traits of cultural expressions.

Held every year on May 21, the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development celebrates not only the richness of the world’s cultures, but also the essential role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development. The United Nations General Assembly first declared this World Day in 2002, following UNESCO’s adoption of the 2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, recognising the need to “enhance the potential of culture as a means of achieving prosperity, sustainable development and global peaceful coexistence”.

Presenting the post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, said Culture Month is being celebrated under the theme: “Promoting Cultural Diversity, Unity and Peace,” with activities envisaged to involve participants and delegates from Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Botswana, South Africa and Namibia.

“The 2023 edition of Culture Month will be officially launched by His Excellency the President, Cde. Dr. ED Mnangagwa on Saturday, 27 May, 2023 in Binga at Kariyangwe Secondary School Grounds, in Matabeleland North Province. Activities in all the 10 administrative provinces will be officially launched by the Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution. The events will be broadcast live on television and other media platforms. The invitees will be given an opportunity to participate in performances and exhibitions, while they will also experience and enjoy the Zimbabwean culture,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

She said focus will be on success stories that will be projected through the production of documentary dramas (docu-dramas) and skits using the medium of film and social media platforms with the themed activities being traditional Cuisines Week Celebrations; the Country-wide African Languages Week; the Fashion Week Celebrations; the Cultural Dialogue Week; and the Potpourri Week Cultural Melting Pot.

“During the Traditional Cuisines Week Celebrations, the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation through the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, will use their strategic alliance with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) to encourage the consumption of traditional foods in restaurants and hotels, enabling the event to coincide with the First Lady’s Cook-out sessions,” said the Minister.

“The theme for the 2023 edition of the Country-wide African Languages Week is ‘African Languages for Sustainable Food Security, Cultural and Socio-economic Development for the Africa We Want’ with the slogan ‘#What We Speak and What We Eat Makes Africa Great!’. The African Languages Week will be officially launched during the last week of May 2023, at the Midlands State University in order to promote indigenous languages as official languages to be used in schools, universities, courts, other public institutions and in all other domains of society.”

She said Fashion Week Celebrations will promote the uptake of the National Fabric and also gather creative people in the fashion industry to showcase and market their African fashion designs and adornments while the Cultural Dialogue Week will promote peace, unity and development in society. — @skhumoyo2000