Chronicle Editor
Boitumelo Makhurane, Chronicle Reporter
THE DEPUTY Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Jennifer Mhlanga has urged Zimbabweans to wear the national dress with pride.
She said this during the provincial launch of the national fabric at Plumtree High School in Matabeleland South on Friday.
The theme of the launch was “My Identity, My Pride in My Environment and beyond.”
The National Dress Fabric encompasses national symbols such as the Zimbabwe Bird, the National Flag and the Chevron pattern. Exhibitors showcased different designs of the cloth made from the national fabric.
Plumtree High School pupils also took part in the designing.
The new national dress was endorsed by President Mnangagwa who said it fosters a sense of patriotism, national identity, sovereignty and pride among Zimbabweans when he launched it in Harare in December last year.
Deputy Minister Mhlanga said the national dress fabric preserves traditional art and craft which is the country’s heritage.
“The designs we are seeing here convey messages on our culture and identity. We appreciate the good work being done by Ms Nkomo (the fabric brand ambassador for Bulilima and Mangwe districts) mobilising women and coming up with different designs and also for including school pupils in designing,” she said.
She urged Zimbabweans to wear the national dress with pride as it will unite them.
“The national dress is a tool that will unite Zimbabweans despite different cultural values and help in celebrating the country’s cultural diversity,” said Deputy Minister Mhlanga.
She said from now on Zimbabweans will have what to wear during national events.
Also speaking during the launch, Matabeleland South Provincial Development Co-ordinator Ms Latiso Dlamini who was standing in for the Minister of State for Matabeleland South Province Abednico Ncube, commended the national fabric saying it fosters a sense of national identity and pride among Zimbabweans.
“I would like to thank the First Lady Amai Mnangagwa for her vision in promoting the National Fabric as it depicts the identity of the people of Zimbabwe. This is a good initiative and we are happy that the dress is now in Matabeleland South,” she said.
Ms Perseverance Nkomo who is the fabric brand ambassador for Bulilima and Mangwe districts urged men, women and youths to buy the material as it is a symbol of national pride.
“I urge all men, women and youths to buy this material and make clothes as we promote our national dress which symbolises our national pride,” she said.
The search for the national dress started in 2005 but did not yield any results prompting Amai Mnangagwa to take it upon herself to ensure that the programme succeeded.
The First Lady has previously said she decided to take up the initiative to come up with a National Dress Fabric as many Zimbabweans had no idea of what to wear during national events, leading to some adopting foreign styles. — @Boity104
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