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Leonard Zhakata

Lovemore Meya Arts Correspondent
Unity of purpose helps overcome challenges that may appear insurmountable, the Zimbabwe Rural Schools Library Trust’s Goodwill Ambassador Leonard Karikoga Zhakata has said.Zhakata said this on Thursday night at the official launch of the ZRSLT EcoCash fundraising appeal held at Book Cafe in the capital.

He was speaking before a cosmopolitan crowd that gathered for a worthy cause and spoke at length of the need for the Zimbabwean populace to support the trust.

“The trust needs support of all Zimbabweans, whether they are fans of the Zhakata, Kapfupi, Pastor Charamba, Suluman Chimbetu or any other musician; across the religious, tribal and political divide.

“Let us work together to empower Zimbabwe’s children with life changing information that prepares them for adult life,” he said.

Zhakata said there is need to encourage a culture of reading across the nation even though some did without libraries during their childhood.

“Reading helps build a nation; therefore libraries are an important empowerment tool whose absence in many people’s lives has resulted in limited opportunities for most Zimbabweans.

“A book-whether available in electronic or printed form-is a must have for every child in school if learning is to be meaningful,” pointed Zhakata.

The thrust of the fundraising set for May 8 at the same venue will be to raise funds meant for the production of an awareness campaign musical album to promote a reading culture.

It will see artistes from across genres coming together to produce the album not later than this year. Zora music fans raised about US$583 towards the production.

Tabeth Makwera on behalf of the fans said: “We undersigned fans of Leonard Zhakata, being aware of his role as Goodwill Ambassador, as a lyricist par excellence, we are rallying behind him for the noble cause he volunteered for the trust to be a success.”