General Information
Technical Information
Hosted under the aegis of the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe being the lead agency, the multi-stakeholder consultative seminar was bank-rolled by SIDA (SIDA 2) under the project RE / Shaping Cultural Policies for the Promotion of Fundamental Freedoms and the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA) facilitated the hosting of this consultative workshop with Farai Mpfunya the local UNESCO expert unpacking the tenets of the Convention. This event also laid bare the onerous task that members of the revamped National Team were expected to carry out. The participants in the consultative indaba included members of the old National Team and other professionals selected from a diverse range of organisations spanning government ministries/departments including the National Statistics Agency (Zimstats), media professionals from both public and private media houses and civil society organisations inclusive of those promoting gender equality. Young professionals were also identified and were added to the team during the consultation process. Prior to the stakeholder consultative workshop, the Lead Agency National Arts Council of Zimbabwe reviewed the National Team's composition identifying new critical members taking a cue from the main domains of the Convention as well as the eleven areas of monitoring. A careful headhunting of stakeholders was carried out informed by the domains of the Convention and those identified were invited to the consultative workshop resulting in the reconstitution of the National Team. The consultative workshop marked the first activity towards the production of the Quadrennial Periodic Report (QPR). Subsequent to the consultative meeting, a three-day training programme constituted the second stage in the continuum of activities/milestones designed to accomplish the production of the Quadrennial Periodic Report on the 2005 Convention. Programmed to take place over a period of three days, the training programme was facilitated by the local UNESCO Expert, Mr. Farai Mpfunya who unpacked components of the Convention inclusive of the scope and framework of the Quadrennial Periodic Report. This training programme was designed for members of the National Team and it laid bare the onerous task for the team viz production of the Quadrennial Periodic Report, replete with the fulfillment of all the critical stages - data collection and collation and public validation of the report.
Zimbabwe in the last four years has been seized with ensuring a robust development of cultural and creative industries and within that process the diversity of aesthetic and cultural expressions was enhanced. The number of arts and culture festivals at all levels; community, district, provincial and national increased thus promoting the diversity of cultural expressions and ultimately feeding into the implementation of the 2005 Convention. Working hand-in-glove with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation placed arts and culture on an enhanced development trajectory buttressed by an number of measures and policies designed to enhance the diversity of cultural expressions. Each year during the period under review, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) hosted the annual Arts and Culture 'Indaba', a meeting platform that draws all stakeholders in the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) sector including civil society organisations.These come to deliberate on the status of the CCIs, taking stock of the effectiveness of policies and measures enacted to prop up the same industries. They also proffer ways and suggestions of how to conduct CCIs issues and business. At governmental level, there was a significant shift in status of the CCs with the sector occupying an important position in National development. The adoption of the Integrated Results Based Management system followed by Programme Based Management System birthed a holistic results-based approach in conducting government business inclusive of the CCIs sector. As a result, a national strategy for the development of CCIs sector was adopted..
The strategy formulation took a multi-stakeholder approach that saw government line Ministries, quasi government organisations, local authorities, civil society, the academia and arts organisations/associations contributing to this strategy from formulation, drafting and validation processes. The revamped National Arts, Culture and Heritage Policy was adopted and launched by the country's President.This demonstrates the importance with which government places on the development of CCIs sector. This was a first ever interaction where the State President (including his key Ministers of Finance and economic Planning, Home Affairs,Industry and Commerce,Tourism and Environment, Women's Affairs, Information and Broadcasting Services as well as Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation) interfaced with the CCIs Representatives drawn nationally in a deliberate process of ensuring that the highest authority in the land and his lieutenants appreciate the sector's significance to national dialogue for economic development. That interaction enabled the President to hear first-hand from the sector, its pertinent issues affecting it and the possible solutions that the sector proffered to remedy them. That interactive engagement indelibly gave recognition to the CCIs sector and its value chains, firmly placing the the sector onto government's radar of priority deserving of attention as a critical economic development player.
The last four years also witnessed the Parliament of Zimbabwe being seized with reviewing and formulating policies that promote as well as impinged positively on the diversity of cultural expressions. Of particular importance was the repealing of two pieces of legislation, the Public Order and Security Act as well as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. This, in one way or the another asphyxiated media diversity, and by extension, the diversity of cultural expressions. Journalists and the media fraternity can now gather information, including that on arts and culture, without impediments or fear of reprisals. In essence, the repealing of these laws enable the free flow of information including accessing to artistic and cultural data that stakeholders in the CCIs may not,ordinarilly be willing to avail.
May 2017 witnessed Zimbabwe's implementation of Culture for Development Indicators (CDIS) in recognition of the enabling and driving role of culture in sustainable development. This has enabled the country to measure the impact of CCIs to economic development. In addition, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (a state-owned entity) adopted a Language Policy resulting in the use of all sixteen languages designated as official in the Zimbabwean Constitution (including Sign Language) as official means of communication. This boosted the diversity of cultural expressions. Measures were also put in place to effectively promote culturally-driven programmes and activities hence the birth of flagship programmes in cultural tourism - the Harare International Carnival and the Community Based Tourism Enterprises, whose backbone remain rooted in the arts and culture. All these polices and measures were crafted and implemented to solidify the domestication and implementation of the Convention's tenets. Zimbabwe, through the effort of the National Arts Council is in the middle of implementing a project funded by the European Union with UNESCO facilitation called the "Strategy for the Sustainable Development of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) in Zimbabwe" which focuses on the Music sector. The project's objectives also feed into the diversity of cultural expressions.
Other stakeholders like the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, arts and culture promoters, corporate organisations and civil society institutions enjoyed active support and facilitation of their programs by government over the last four years as they played their respective roles in the implementation of the 2005 Convention. Civil society organisations, in particular, played a pivotal role in the establishment of creative communities or hubs which have registered their presence both virtually and physically. Government and its agencies have linked them to local authorities and other stakeholders. Government's major priority in last four years was therefore facilitating and ensuring that all stakeholders were seized and involved in the implementation of the Convention by either partnering them in refurbishing existing and or developing new CCIs infrastructure or getting the sector to shape and inform enabling frameworks for the sector to flourish.
As a direct result of the implementation of the Convention and its attendant production of mandatory Quadrennial Periodic Reports, Zimbabwe built capacities within individuals who are now conversant with the Convention's key tenets. Some hail from key national institutions, notably National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, the National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) and Government sister Ministries that deal with cultural expressions and gender. These individuals by virtue of being pivotal in producing Zimbabwe's inaugural Quadrennial Periodic Report of 2016 and the current one, have developed the requisite skills relating to the Convention's monitoring and evaluation with specific reference to the eleven monitoring areas. Other such skills are cultural information/data gathering, processing (interpretation) as well as strategic planning. In addition, the NACZ and the NGZ committed tangible support by offering their personnel and office facilities within their respective premises for QPR National Team members to use, particularly the drafting team. This ensured smooth flow of the report's production processes.
Building on the experiences gained in both the implementation and production of the inaugural report of 2016, Zimbabwe is now poised to up-scale the implementation of the Convention in the ensuing four years. The timely recognition and acceptance of Cultural and Creative Industries as fundamental pillars of the Zimbabwean economy, at the highest level in government, and the official launching of the National Arts, Culture and Heritage Policy, the robust involvement of civil society and CCIs players in the crafting of a CCIs strategy coupled with repealing of inhibiting laws will remain pivotal in the implementation of the Convention. Civil society organisations will continue to play an active role in policing government in its continued people-centric and transparent promotion and protection of the diversity of cultural expressions.
Organization type | Organization | Website | |
---|---|---|---|
Public Sector
| Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency
| info@zimstat.co.zw
| http://www.zimstat.co.zw
|
Civil Society Organization (CSO)
| Let Them Trust
| letthemfest@gmail.com
| http://www.letthemtrust.org.zw
|
Civil Society Organization (CSO)
| Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo
| info@intwasa.org
| http://www.intwasa.org
|
Public Sector
| Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry
| info@tourism.gov.zw
| http://www.envirotourism.gov.zw
|
Civil Society Organization (CSO)
| Music Crossroads Academy Zimbabwe
| mczimbabwe@music-crossroads.net
| http://www.music-crossroads.net
|
Civil Society Organization (CSO)
| Savanna Trust
| savannaprograms@gmail.com
| http://www.savannatrust.com
|
Civil Society Organization (CSO)
| Nhimbe Trust
| info@nhimbe.org
| http://www.nhimbe.org
|
Public Sector
| National Gallery of Zimbabwe
| info@nationalgallery.co.zw
| http://www.nationalgallery.co.zw
|
Public Sector
| Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage
| thesecretary@moha.gov.zw
| http://www.moha.gov.zw
|
Civil Society Organization (CSO)
| Arterial Network Zimbabwe
| flossywafarai@gmail.com
| http://www.aterialnetwork.org
|
Goal 1 - Support Sustainable Systems of Governance for Culture
Cultural and Creative Sectors
Cultural and Creative Industries Development Strategy
National Arts, Culture and Heritage Policy
Zimbabwe Curriculum Framework
Culture for Development Indicators (CDIS)
Media Diversity
Licensing of Provincial Metropolitan Radio Stations
Government improved the transmission infrastructure ($300 000)
Zimbabwe Digital Content Creation Strategy
$1.5m
News Bulletins in 9 Local Languages
$200 000
Outlawing of Criminal Defamation (2016)
Radio and Television Broadcasting Language Policy
$250 000
Freedom of Information Act
Entorno digital
Innovation Drive Project
Value Added Services (VAS) Framework
National ICT Policy (Review/Update)
Partnering with Civil Society
Goal 2 - Achieve a Balanced Flow of Cultural Goods and Services and Increase the Mobility of Artists and Cultural Professionals
Mobility of Artists and Cultural Professionals
Flow of Cultural Goods and Services
Tratados y acuerdos
China- Zimbabwe Executive Program for Culture
Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Development between India and Zimbabwe
Goal 3 - Integrate Culture in Sustainable Development Frameworks
National Sustainable Development Policies & Plans
Sector Consultation for the National Development Strategy 1
International Cooperation for Sustainable Development
Goal 4 - Promote Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Gender Equality
Women in Arts Conference
Skills enhancement workshop for female artists
Capacity building program for female arts administrators
Libertad artística
Measures and Initiatives reported by Civil Society Organizations
U40 Cultural Leadership Fellowship
Culture Lens to Constitutional Realignment
Let Them Festival
Capacity building and sharpening of skills in the professional dance industry
Arts based Intervention to provide psycho-social support to children and families affected by cyclone Idai. Co-creating recovery through the spirit of creativity, play humor, joy, peace, compassion and loving kindness.
Cultural Cooperation Partnership with Bulawayo City Council
Arts, Community and Technology Integrated Into Online Narratives (ACTION Hub)
Violence Must End Campaign
Status of Women Artists Plan
Universal Periodic Review - Artistic Freedom in Zimbabwe
Leverage Rights to Artistic Freedom in Zimbabwe
Artistic Freedom - Artist and Cultural Professionals Solidarity
Emerging Transversal Issues
Establishment of the Empower Bank
Youth Development Fund
Establishment of the Zimbabwe Women's Micro Finance Bank
Arts Development Fund
Challenges and Achievements
Annexes
Submission
