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By Stephen Chifunyise Own Correspondent
From July 13-17, the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture held workshops in Mutare, Masvingo, Gweru, Bulawayo and Harare to enable stakeholders in the arts and culture sector to validate the draft National Culture Policy of Zimbabwe. The culture policy review exercise that began in 2009 with the update on the national culture policy launched in 2007 through provincial consultations of stakeholders in the arts and culture sector by the Department of Arts and Culture in the then Ministry of Education, Sport Arts and Culture with the support of UNESCO and Culture Fund of Zimbabwe led to a first draft of the update in 2012.

Upon the establishment of the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture in 2013 , the first draft of the national culture policy produced by a local team of consultants was given to a new team of local consultants that produced a second draft national culture policy that was in late 2014 presented for review and comments to a select group of stakeholders in the arts and culture sector that met in Harare and Bulawayo.

Armed with views, comments and recommendations of the select group of stakeholders, the second team of local consultants produced the 38 page final draft that was presented for validation by stakeholders in the four cities of Mutare and Bulawayo(July 13), Gweru(July 14) and Harare(July15). Also included in the validation exercise was a 15 page Action Plan for the implementation of the national culture policy.

At the Mutare culture policy validation workshop, the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture officials indicated that stakeholders in the arts and culture who were not able to participate in the workshops in the four cities were encouraged to access the draft national culture policy on the ministry’s website and to submit their views, comments and recommendations which will be studied by a technical committee that will produce the final national culture policy document.

There is no doubt that these extensive and engaging consultations with stakeholders in the arts and culture sector that have been held since 2009 have contributed significantly to a draft national culture policy that has taken into consideration many policy aspects that were in the national culture policy of 2007. Not only does the new culture policy benefit from new 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-economic Transformation(ZIM-ASSET), the draft national culture policy also takes cognisance of international conventions and protocols Zimbabwe has ratified.

Equally significant in this draft national cultural policy is the recognition of the fact that there are 15 ministries and departments that are “mandated with some component or have oversight of some programmes or initiatives in the arts, culture and heritage.” The draft policy also lists 23 “laws on the culture, arts and heritage that enable the establishment of institutions that provide regulatory frameworks for preservation, promotion and safeguarding of the arts, heritage and culture sector.”

With regards to the existence of different ministries and departments with some culture functions and the various laws on arts ,culture and heritage, the draft policy asserts the role of the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture “will play in establishing the linkages and effective coordination of arms of government” in the implementation of the national culture policy. Some of the policy interventions articulated in the document highlight aspects that confirm the commitment of the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture in coordinating, facilitating, funding, creating and developing programmes that “enhance the safeguarding of the nation’s tangible, intangible and natural heritage.”

Another very significant aspect is the policy intervention that refers to the Ministry’s commitment to the creation of a “environment for mutually beneficial cooperation among state and non-state organs in the arts and culture sector.” Consistent with the issue of effective coordination of ministries and departments with functions and mandates in the arts and culture is the recommended policy action of stated in the Action Plan for the Implementation of the National Culture Policy is the lobbying for the creation of a Cabinet Committee on culture,arts and heritage.

The draft national culture policy contains a section with key definitions; an introductions articulates the context, broad objectives of the policy and the description of the national culture policy review process that have been undertaken. The policy further elaborates guiding principles that include: unhu/ubuntu; pan- Africanism and African renaissance; recognition of culture in economic development; sovereignty; respect for and equal dignity of all indigenous cultures and sustainable development.

Also articulated as a distinct section of the policy document are the legislative frameworks in arts and culture at local regional and international levels. A major portion of the cultural policy document deals with the following policy priority areas where policy aims, policy objectives and policy intervention are articulated: safeguarding Zimbabwean cultural identity; appreciation and respect for indigenous Zimbabwean identities and cultural diversity; Zimbabwean heritage preservation; promoting indigenous knowledge; creative industry development cultural economy; infrastructure development; and education and training.

Other sections of the draft national cultural policy document deal with the financing of culture; policy implementation; monitoring and evaluation of the national cultural policy and its review.

While there are on eight policy priority areas in the policy document the Action Plan for the Implementation of the National Cultural Policy has nine policy priority areas. The additional policy priority areas in Action Plan for the Implementation of the National Cultural Policy is one on culture and international relations.

In many respects , this national cultural policy update is very progressive . Any additions in terms of views, comments and recommendations from those stakeholders who did not have the opportunity to participate in the review of the first and second drafts of this policy and in the validation exercise will greatly enhance the scope and viability of this national cultural policy. In the national cultural policy validation exercise in Mutare fear was expressed that the comments and recommendations by those who did not participate in the validation exercise may get to the national cultural policy technical team to late to be taken on board.