Right-Mr William Ndinde Acting Assistant Director- Arts Promotion and Development, Mr Tsaukai Mututwa Assistant Director- Administration and Finance, Director Mr Elvas Mari, Ms Mwiche Chikungu Assistant Director-Performing and Literary Arts, Ms Florence Sinkala Accountant, Deputy Director Mr Nicholas Moyo and Acting Communication and Marketing Manager Ms Cathrine Mthombeni at the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe hosted National Arts Council of Zambia delegates Ms Florence Sinkala and Ms Mwiche Chikungu who were in Zimbabwe on a cultural exchange mission. This was a follow up to the meeting the two Councils held last year on the 21st of July 2016 in Kariba, Zimbabwe that culminated in the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU has since been approved by the Boards of the two Councils and will soon be signed by two Chairpersons. The Zambian delegates had an opportunity to be equipped with knowledge on how National Arts Council of Zimbabwe administers its finances and runs programmes cognisant of a number of commonalities cutting across the mandates of the two institutions.
The cultural exchange programme also involved the following; a visit to the Zambian Embassy to meet the ambassador and a courtesy call to the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture with the permanent secretary Dr Benson Dube. Thereafter, the delegates toured the National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) and had an opportunity to discuss with the NGZ Director Mrs Doreen Sibanda on issues pertaining to how the gallery is functioning as the delegates highlighted that National Arts Council of Zambia recently opened a gallery in Livingstone.
There was also a technical committee meeting held between the two Arts Councils to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding that was a result of the meeting that was held on the 21st of July 2016 in Zimbabwe in Kariba. Last years’ meeting was attended by members of management teams from both Councils and led by the respective Directors, Mr Elvas Mari and Mr Adrian Chipindi. The meeting was a result of discussions between the two heads of institutions realizing value in leveraging on the proximity to each other as well as being founding members of the International Federation of Arts Councils and Arts Agencies (IFACCA).
The current meeting agreed on principles of execution of the MOU. A suggestion was presented that the African charter of IFACCA apart from meeting with Chief Executive Officers of National Arts Councils should consider giving an opportunity to programming teams to meet on the sidelines to map up implementing strategies. The idea was based on that usually the CEOs’ meetings mainly focus on policy making.
As part of the programme the Zambian delegates then visited Dzimbanhete Arts Interactions an arts and culture resource centre that prioritises heritage preservation by promoting, enabling and giving space to endeavors, which articulate traditional oral and material culture. A visit was also made to Amagugu International Heritage Centre and emphasis by the centre Director and owner historian Mr Pathisa Nyathi was on continuity through documentation, preservation and promotion of indigenous cultural heritage and thereafter the team visited Cecil John Rhodes’ tomb in Matopo. The delegates had an opportunity as well to tour Pakare Paye Arts Centre, a brainchild of the internationally acclaimed music legend Dr Oliver Mtukudzi. They viewed the Centre that has a recording studio, performing arena and rooms for accommodation.
Apart from the mentioned Centres, the team also went to Chitungwiza Arts Centre, a home for visual artists particularly stone sculptors. The delegates also attended the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe National Jikinya Dance Festival in Bulawayo, an annual festival aiming at encouraging children to appreciate and perform Zimbabwean traditional dances thereby promoting and safeguarding Zimbabwe’s cultural intangible heritage.
It was an honour to have Ms Sinkala and Ms Chikungu for a cultural exchange programme for it strengthened the relationship not only between the two National Arts Councils but between the two peoples as well.