Zimbabwe’s Cultural Policy of 2006 operationalised under the aegis of the then Ministry of Education and Culture proved inadequate in terms of giving direction to the development of the arts and culture sector. This was occasioned by the emergence of new cultural expressions rendering the policy inadequate. The Ministry was then reconstituted to Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture the latter then initiated an inclusive reformulation process of the Cultural Policy characterized by nation-wide intensive consultations with stakeholders, notably civil society organisations, the Chiefs’ Council, arts associations, academia and professionals in the arts and culture sector. In addition, stakeholders were afforded the opportunity to interrogate the reformulated draft Cultural Policy at scheduled meetings to address indentified shortcomings. The creation of a standalone Ministry of Rural Development, Preservation and Promotion of National Culture and Heritage assumed the finalization of the Cultural Policy reformulation process resulting in its validation again with civil society organisations playing a pivotal role. The same Ministry facilitated Zimbabwe’s inaugural Quadrennial Report writing process.
The revamped Draft Cultural Policy for Zimbabwe is underpinned by the following key mission objectives:
- To create a culturally vibrant, cohesive and progressive Zimbabwean society where various forms of arts, culture and expressions thereof serve to showcase as well as celebrate the nation’s diverse heritage;
- To create an enabling environment that allows for inclusive, equitable and energetic participation by all Zimbabweans in the arts, culture and heritage sectors for greater social cohesion, economic empowerment and nation-building;
- To give due recognition to the distinctive nature of cultural activities, goods and services in the country as well as acknowledge them as vehicles of identity, values, meaning, socio-economic empowerment and nation-building;
- To encourage individuals, groups and communities, state as well as non-state actor institutions to contribute towards safeguarding Zimbabwe’s culture, artistic expression, tangible as well as intangible heritage for posterity;
- To strengthen the role that Zimbabwe’s rich national heritage and culture, premised on the virtues and values of Ubuntu/Unhu, could play in the nation’s growth and sustainable development
In pursuit of the need to afford Zimbabweans an everlasting opportunity to express themselves culturally and at whatever level, community, zone, district, provincial and national, the draft Cultural Policy places emphasis on key priority areas that found traction in the Convention as indicated below:
Safeguarding the Zimbabwean Cultural Identity
Appreciation and Respect for Indigenous Zimbabwean Identities and Cultural Diversity
Safeguarding Zimbabwean Heritage
Promoting Indigenous Knowledge
Cultural and Creative Industry Development
Infrastructure Deverlopment
Education and Training
Culture and International Relations
In a digital environment opportunities exist to promote the diversity of cultural expressions as itemised below:
- Internet connectivity
- Migration from the antiquated analogue system in broadcasting to full digitilisation
- Use of digital technology in arts education and training
Challenges confronting effective promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions in a digital environment are mainl