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At The Gallery
Love Zimbabwe Charity held a reception for students from the University of Wales in partnership with it last week at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. Love Zimbabwe Charity is an organisation that supports community projects in Zimbabwe with the aim of engaging different communities to achieve sustainable living for the community within its natural environment and African culture.

The reception was officially launched by the Minister of Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage honourable Abedinico Ncube.

“Zimbabwe remains committed to working with anyone around the globe provided he or she regards us as partners. Thus, culture cuts across race, religion, gender and political divide. Let’s cherish and uphold the aspect of Ubuntu for the betterment of our people,” said Ncube In a speech read on his behalf by the acting secretary in his ministry, Farai Mabhena.

“Working in partnership with the community, we have identified what they need to deal with the extreme poverty they’re experiencing, and provide them with basic standards of living and work,” said Martha Musonza-Holman the founder of Love Zimbabwe Charity.

She said Love Zimbabwe Charity supports community projects in Wales and Zimbabwe with the aim of engaging different communities to achieve sustainable living for the community within its natural environment and African culture.

The idea of the event was to link students in Wales and Zimbabwe for cultural exchange.

Ncube said that it is important to have cultural exchange programme which will foster a good relationship between Zimbabwe and Wales.

Love Zimbabwe Charity founder said as part of the programme the visiting students will tour a number of cultural and political institutions in and around Harare to have better understanding of the country.

“The visit by these Wales University students, Love Zimbabwe partners and trustees will help in community development issues.

“The tourism sector is also set to benefit as we believe this cultural exchange programme will help portray to the world the positive things happening in Zimbabwe at the same time strengthening the relationship between the two countries,” said Mrs Holman.

Fair trade is an important aspect of their work as they are helping individuals and groups to start their own businesses, making African arts and crafts, and get a fair price for them.

“We established the art and craft market stalls in UK where products from Zimbabwean artistes are sold to accord them an opportunity to market their products taking into cognisance property rights in line with international standards while at the same time boosting the Zimbabwe Tourism sector,” she said.

Chinamhora Community was chosen for the pilot project working with Love Zimbabwe and plans are at an advanced stage to spread the wings countrywide.

Chinamhora community has helped both parties to collectively identify what is needed to deal with poverty being experienced in the community providing basic standards of living

They are to participate in different workshops that include; batik, sculpting and bead ornament.

The event was attended by some representatives from National Museums and Monuments, National Gallery of Zimbawe, Tsoro Arts Centre Group of Marimba, and St Giles School band who provided entertainment to the audiences.