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Vongai Mbara Arts Correspondent
Minister of Sport, Arts and Recreation Kazembe Kazembe has promised to give a helping hand to the creative sector to ensure that artists have access to the global market.

Speaking at a meeting last week with Arterial Network secretary general Tojo Yharimanana Rakotomalala and chairman Daves Guzha, the minister said he was happy that the institution had reached out with interesting objectives.

“As Government in this new administration, we are willing to assist the creative sector. Just like our President is always saying that Zimbabwe is open for business, the same applies to the creative sector. In this new dispensation, we are very open to discussions especially when an institution’s objectives are consistent with our objectives as a country,” said the minister.

Guzha encouraged the Government to continue supporting the creative sector so that it becomes as strong as other sectors in the economy.

“Zimbabwe is one of the leading countries in terms of instituting change and making sure that cultural industries are put right in the forefront. This was more of a reaffirmation to the Government of Zimbabwe through honorable Kazembe Kazembe to say Zimbabwe can continue pushing the cultural industries so that it also stands head to shoulder with other industries namely mining, tourism, manufacturing and infrastructural development,” said Guzha.

Arterial Network is a dynamic Pan-African, civil-society network of artists, cultural activists, entrepreneurs, enterprises, NGOs, institutions, and donors active in Africa’s creative and cultural sectors

Its vision is to ensure a dynamic and prosperous African creative sector, engaged in qualitative creative practices that contribute to positive and lasting changes in governance policies, as well as cultural, economic and social living environments.

Guzha went on to illustrate their objectives to the minister.

“Our key interest is the African continent affairs. As a pan African body, we are more geared to look at aspects of movement of goods and services. Sometimes we look at Europe as the source market forgetting that our own source market is actually next door and it is within us. We believe that the first source market is Africa itself and once Africa has done that, everything else follows,” said Guzha.