Ratification of Conventions
- Ratification of the Conventions on protection of the cultural expressions and safeguarding of the cultural heritage is a critical international statement about Zimbabwe’s commitment to the arts and culture, its immigrant communities, indigenous cultural freedom of expression, cultural diversity and human rights, foreign aid and international co-operation. Ratification of the Convention enables the preservation of diverse cultural values and norms and safeguarding of the cultural heritage at the local, regional, national and international for its continuity, transmission and development. Ratification as well as protects and boost existing and emerging cultural industries that are contributing to the growth of the Zimbabwean economy. Also ratification enables cultural cooperation within set standards and framework that encourages uniformity and standardisation of operations while fostering dialogue and exchange of information on existing legal frameworks and best practices. Moreover, synergies are created between civil society actors in Zimbabwe and the civil societies in developed countries including partnerships for development. Civil societies through such networks will therefore, widen their knowledge base and will assess the needs of communities and provide valuable information and innovative ideas regarding improvement and efficient application of preferential treatment frameworks and schemes.
The main feature of the measure is the promotion, preservation of diverse cultural values, norms and safeguarding of the cultural heritage at the local, regional, national and international level for its continuity, transmission and development through putting safeguarding measures as well as information sharing with developed countries on best practices among other measures hence preserving the National identity and pride. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 article 27 articulates this basic right of preserving varied and critical cultural heritage which are both tangible and intangible. Zimbabwe ratified the UNESCO convention on the means of prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, Export and transfer of ownership of cultural property in (1970) as a measure to protect national identity. In 2003 the UNESCO Convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage was ratified hence the proclamation of Mbende Jerusarema Dance as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity with Murewa Culture Centre acting as the reference place for safeguarding purposes. The dance is performed by the community of Murewa and Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP) in the North Eastern Districts of Zimbabwe. The ancient fertility dance is celebrated yearly through a festival organised by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
In addition, Zimbabwe ratified the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. In Zimbabwe the convention is implemented through the creation of hybrid arts and culture festivals that are organised in all provinces. Among these festivals is Jikinya Dance festival that is held annually by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe aiming at encouraging primary school children to appreciate and perform Zimbabwean traditional dances thus promoting and preserving Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage for posterity. However, Zimbabwe is working towards ratification of the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport.
The benefits of ratifying Conventions create a conducive environment in which the diversity of cultural expressions may be affirmed and renewed for the benefit of all societies. This is in the spirit of the convention that aims to ensure that all societies and individuals enjoy the assortment of cultural expressions with openness, balance and freedom. At the same it promotes the nation’s development as well as creating a favourable image for the country, hence fostering cultural tourism making a socio-cultural and economic contribution to the sustainable development of Zimbabwe. Moreover, ratification fosters socio-cultural continuity between past, present and future generations thus ensuring that certain values and norms are practiced and passed from generation to generation freely. In addition the nation benefits from a network of State Parties that aims at engaging in genuine international cooperation, assistance and exchanges of experience that is perpetuated by respect of society’s freedom of expression.
At the same time, it reaffirms the ties that bind culture, development and dialogue and establishes an innovative platform for international cultural cooperation. To this end, the Convention aims to: (a) create conditions for cultures to flourish and to interact freely in a mutually beneficial manner; (b) give recognition to the distinctive nature of cultural activities, goods and services as vehicles of identity, values and meaning; (c) identify new arrangements for international cooperation, which is the keystone of the Convention; (d) reaffirm the sovereign rights of States to maintain, adopt and implement policies and measures that they deem appropriate for the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions on their territory, while ensuring the free flow of ideas and works.
Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust total funding for the year 2015 that was channeled to arts and culture projects amounted to $1 023 418.37. The allocation was as follows
PROJECT NAME, RECEPIENT & (USD )GRANT
1 MULTI-LINGUAL MUSIC CD AND DVD Albert Nyathi 20,000.00
2 OWN YOUR RUBBISH Laurie Macpherson 23,500.00
3 INTERNATIONAL IMAGES FILM FESTIVAL FOR WOMEN (II FF) ICAPA Trust 35,000.00
4 WOMEN’S ARTS FESTIVAL (WAFEST) Young Voices Network 35,094.00
5 WOMEN IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP DIALOGUE STIMULUS Hub 30,000.00
6 PRACTICE NORMS THAT REINFORCE GENDER EQUALITY (TV SERIES) Afrovision Entertainment 50,000.00
7 TRADITIONAL VILLAGE AT GREAT ZIMBABWE National Museums and Monuments 19,000.00
8 PROMOTING AN UNDERSTANDING OF DISABILITY RIGHTS Zimbabwe Deaf Media Trust 17,610.00
9 INTWASA ARTS FESTIVAL KOBULAWAYO Intwasa Arts Festival 17,000.00
10 BEITBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS Beitbridge Arts Festival 15,000.00
11 JIBILIKA DANCE FESTIVAL Jibilika Dance Trust 18,000.00
12 GALLERY DELTA FOUNDATION FOR ART AND THE HUMANITIES Gallery Delta Foundation 20,000.00
13 ZIMBABWE INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR (ZIBF) 2015 Zimbabwe International Book Fair 50,000.00
14 CAPACITY BUILDING OF DRAMATIC ARTISTS PROJECT Almasi Productions 20,000.00
15 EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE Pamberi Trust &n