Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
Communities in Beitbridge district have challenged development agencies and local authorities to channel more resources towards the construction of more culture centres.
It is envisaged that such facilities will be critical in growing community-based tourism initiatives.
In separate interviews during the commemoration of the Shangani Culture (Mapowu Day) at Tshikwalakwala under Beitbridge district, the villagers said culture tourism could turn around many lives in rural communities.
The Beitbridge community has diverse cultures drawn from the Vhavenda, Basotho, Shangani and Vapfumbi people.
“We are here at Tshikwalakwala to celebrate a Shangani culture day. This helps us to understand the language better the importance of dress, language, dance and other rites,” said a career development worker, Mr Enock Kwinika.
“However, for us to promote village or community-based tourism, we should have culture centres across the district based on what culture is dominate in a particular area.
“There are many spill over businesses that come with such including the same of clothing items, curios and even food, among others”.
According to Mr Melusi Hlongwane, who coordinates the Mapowu Day, the development of culture villages or culture centres would help grow economies from the grassroots level.
He said the Mapowu Day was held in September every year to celebrate the arrival of the first group of Shangani people at the confluence of the Bubi and Limpopo Rivers.
“Our ancestors came from down south and settled at the fertile lands at a place called Mapowu. So, to preserve and promote our heritage, we hold this festival every year,” said Mr Hlongwane.
“We bring together the Shangani people from Beitbridge and Chiredzi and adjacent villages in South Africa. Events like these help us stay true to culture and pass on the knowledge from generation to generation.
“What we need to do is to build culture centres where people van visit throughout the year to learn more about the Shangani, Pfumbi or Venda people”.
Mrs Julia Ndou said women could benefit more from culture tourism especially this that are into art and craft or who sew traditional clothes for resale to tourists. She said it was important that people meet always at one converging point to discuss and celebrate cultural diversity.
“Women can make a lot from selling clothes, artefacts and traditional food to those touring such centres,” she said.
She said it was also important for the general members of the community to participate fully in the construction of cultural centres in support of the arts industry and community tourism within Beitbridge.
Mrs Queen Mhlanga said to start with, the development agencies may build simple community halls where some days are dedicated for cultural activities where visitors may come for knowledge sharing.
She said, these may the meeting points for the youth and elders to interact on life changing issues relating to culture.
“We have a rich history and we should also be sharing this and using some of the skills to be productive economically. So, our appeal to the Government through its various arms is that they need to invest in village tourism,” said Mrs Mhlanga.
She said it was important to take art as a business and artists should earn a living through such industries and tourism.
The culture centres, she said could be used to market art in all its facets.
A representative for the Youths in Tourism, Miss Thandeka Mukandatsama said the country was rich in diverse culture which need more profiling and space for marketing.
“We have learnt a lot about the dances, festivals, food and clothing from the Shangani community.
Our view is that if they get more space to showcase their culture to the outside world, many families here could make a living from businesses linked to tourism,” she said.
She said the culture centres will also help promote domestic tourism and market many districts across Zimbabwe.
Beitbridge senior traditional leader, Chief Tshitaudze said recently that it was critical for women’s clubs around the district to take up business opportunities that come with the creation of the cultural centres.
The traditional leader said apart from promoting human centre development, the culture month celebrations were envisaged to nature and create employment in communities at the lowest level.
“They help to foster cultural tourism for local and other consumption as well as culminating a sense of self-pride amongst the diverse communities as they showcase their dress, food, dance, habits, language and other varied cultural elements,” he said.