Zim govt launches 2020-30 strategy for cultural and creative industries

The strategy seeks to guide the development and growth of the sector for it to become critical in creating an upper middle income social bracket in Zimbabwe. Coventry said the policy identified 10 pillars that needed to be given immediate attention within the stipulated timeline.

“Attending to these pillars will firmly position the CCI as pivotal for the sector’s role in national economic development and employment creation,” she said. “Products from the CCIs sector, which inherently contribute to building social cohesion, peace and the marketing of Zimbabwe, will also gain a foothold.”

Some of the identified pillars include education, capacity building and training, financing and investment, cultural markets and business development, cultural statistics and research, information and communication technologies, cultural diplomacy and global business, cultural governance, and safeguarding cultural heritage.

Coventry implored the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, and CCI sectors such as music, film and video, visual arts, dance, theatre, spoken word, literary arts, fashion, graphic design and crafts to glean from the strategy to craft a way forward.

“It is also critical for me to underline that during the implementation of the strategy, the ministry will include a wide range of stakeholders from the public and private sectors.

“As a ministry, we invite the corporate world, development partners, agencies and educational institutions to feel free to pick aspects among the 10 pillars that they wish to run with or partner the ministry or CCI sector players in their implementation support processes.”

She added: “Most importantly, the various state and private-owned institutions, which include the media, universities, polytechnics, teacher education colleges and those specialised institutions that not only offer technical training but also nurture and expose creative talent, including the film and theatre schools, will be duly courted.”