Online Reporter
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
THE inaugural Kuzana Traditional Dance Competition was held at the Colliery Club Gardens in Hwange on Sunday, drawing 18 groups from across Matabeleland North.
The festival, hosted by Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) Holdings in partnership with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ), brought together dance ensembles from Hwange, Lupane, Tsholotsho, Umguza and Nkayi districts, each performing to celebrate their roots and cultural identity.
The festival featured six traditional dance forms: Hosanna, Amabhiza, Chipelu, Isitshikitsha, Makishi and Mhande. In the seniors’ category, Hwange-based Pezhuba Pachena emerged overall champions, walking away with US$500, while Victoria Falls’ Amakhosikazi secured second place with US$300. Gule Wamuntu, also from Hwange, placed third and received US$200.
The juniors division saw Lwendulu Primary School dominate, claiming the overall title and US$500. The school also scooped Best Mhande Dance (US$500) and Best Male Dancer (US$50).
Amakhosikazi continued to shine, taking home the Best Hosanna Dance prize worth US$500. Their standout performer, Fadzai Chizema, was crowned Best Senior Female Dancer, receiving US$100.
The senior male dancer category was won by a performer from Tsholotsho’s Ingugama, who also received US$100. In the junior female category, a Masazi dancer claimed top honours.
Speaking on behalf of the Guest of Honour, NACZ executive director Napoleon Nyani, acting provincial arts manager Nokukhanya Sandra Moyo said traditional dance remains a vessel of identity, moral education and historical memory.
“Every drumbeat we hear today is a call from our ancestors. Each movement is a language of the spirit, and each song is a bridge between generations. Our dances are our history books. Our performances are our national identity in motion,” she said.
She applauded HCCL for integrating cultural revival into community development.
“Hwange is not just a mining town. It is a symbol of unity through diversity. The coal may power our industries, but it is culture that powers our spirit,” she added.
Representing HCCL chief executive officer William Gambiza, facilities manager Engineer Noreen Dube said the festival marked the beginning of a broader programme to restore arts, sports, and youth recreation in the district.
“We recognise that development is not only about mining coal, but nurturing the soul of our people. Traditional dance, music, and sport offer powerful alternatives to drug and substance abuse among youth. Let’s encourage our young people to pick up the drum instead of the bottle,” she said.
She added that the Kuzana Festival forms part of HCCL’s ongoing efforts to align with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles, particularly the social empowerment pillar, which places value on the well-being, identity, and creativity of communities that live around the company’s operations.
Traditional leaders, Government officials, civil society representatives, and community elders attended the event, which many hailed as an important step in preserving culture and strengthening the community.
Bongani Ndlovu