Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma [email protected]
CHIEF Mbusi Dakamela of Nkayi in Matabeleland North province has said collaboration between tradition and innovation can create a path of new possibilities for rural communities.
In a statement on Cultural Diplomacy, People-to-People Engagement and Building Partnerships Through Heritage, the Dakamela Trust and the Office of His Royal Highness Chief Dakamela warmly welcomed the continued engagement between the Dakamela Traditional Leadership, the Dakamela Trust and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Zimbabwe.
Chief Dakamela said embracing innovation does not require communities to abandon their identity.
“Rather, we believe tradition and innovation can work together—allowing indigenous knowledge, cultural assets and contemporary technologies to create new possibilities for rural communities. The Dakamela Trust therefore looks forward to deepening its engagement with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and exploring practical areas of cooperation that can benefit the people of Dakamela and the wider Matabeleland region.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to the Ambassador and the Embassy for their friendship, openness and continued commitment to meaningful engagement with our traditional institutions and communities. Culture connects us. Heritage gives us identity. Innovation creates new possibilities,” reads part of the statement.
The Dakamela Trust said they value the Embassy’s commitment to people-to-people engagement and cultural diplomacy.
“This recognises culture and heritage as powerful platforms through which nations and communities can build mutual understanding, friendship and practical partnerships. Our recent engagement with the Embassy, including the participation of Chinese Juncao technology experts at the iMiklomelo kaDakamela Cultural Festival, demonstrated the potential of this approach. The experts engaged directly with local communities, sharing practical knowledge and innovative agricultural techniques, creating an important exchange between cultural heritage and modern technology.
“For us, this represents the kind of cultural diplomacy we believe can deliver meaningful outcomes: bringing people together, exchanging knowledge and creating opportunities that extend beyond the cultural platform itself. The conversation between His Royal Highness Chief Dakamela and HE Ambassador Ding Zhou also explored promising areas for future collaboration, including cultural heritage preservation, creative industries, agro-tourism and rural livelihood development,” reads the statement.
“We believe that our cultural heritage should not be viewed solely as something to be preserved. It is also an asset through which communities can create economic opportunities, strengthen livelihoods, develop tourism experiences and inspire younger generations,” said the Dakamela Trust.
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