Background
The Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust (Culture Fund) hosted a Culture forum in partnership with the
UNDP) which is jointly working with the Government of Zimbabwe under the Zimbabwe United
Nations Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF) to deliver sustainable development. One of
the UN Development Programme’s key pillars of their commitment is delivery of peace and security
in Zimbabwe by enabling increased citizen participation in democratic processes, social cohesion and
improved culture constitutionalism.
The Culture Forum interrogates new strategies combining conventional approaches as well as
innovative initiatives to equip practitioners to strengthen capacities to design, implement, monitor and
evaluate responses that lead to more effective peacebuilding planning and programming responses.
The Culture Fund of Zimbabwe (Culture Fund), in partnership with the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) in Zimbabwe, are working within a multi-stakeholder community of practice to
contribute to the Zimbabwe Government – UNDP Development Assistance Fund (ZUNDAF) expected
outcome and programme output;
- Increased citizen participation in democratic processes in line with the provisions of the
Constitution and relevant international norms and standards. - Dialogue and consensus building processes towards nationally shared values strengthened
Culture Forum Objectives
To jointly reflect on the role of the Creative Sector in deepening the foundations for peace, social
cohesion in Zimbabwe. More specifically, the Culture Forum aims to achieve the following result:
Using a design-thinking approach, convene the Culture Forum, composed of creative sector thought-
leaders, reflect around the role of the Arts and Culture Sector in peacebuilding; leading to the
development of a peace-mascot that creatively champions and constitutionalism and reconciliation.
Guiding Principles: Creative and Design Thinking, Commonality of Purpose, Collective Effort,
Diversity Appreciation and Management, Culture of Constitutionality, Dialogue for Consensus
Building
Purpose
This report is meant to inform the Board of what transpired at the forum and the activities of the
day. An evaluation of the event as well as recommendations made by those who met on the day.
The Event
The main pillar of the discussion revolved around peace in the arts and culture sphere as a
springboard to national developmental issues.
Entertained by a group of Capoeira dancers and the symbolism behind the dance and how it
ties up with the African identity
We also got to hear from two gentlemen running a youth football academy in Eastlea for
underprivileged youths. Their aim is to impart psychosocial and teamwork skills.
Made a video where every attendee was interviewed and how they feel the event will
benefit them and the arts and culture sector
Explored the concept of Ubuntu and how it affects our relations as Africans and
Zimbabweans in the arts and culture space in relation to the whole world.
The constitution-making process in relation to the arts and culture sector
Finding a common ground of expression between cultural groups and art forms of expression
with the status quo
Conclusion
In conclusion, the forum was an eye-opener for so many discussions around the arts and culture
sector and issues of constitutionalism. It was agreed that there was a need to sit around a symbolic
bonfire in the African tradition and interrogate issues further without necessarily meeting inexpensive venues. In addition, the new constitution was found wanting in terms of arts and cultural representation and the different voices added to the discussion that the marginalized voices need to be heard and be accounted for so as to bring plurality and cultural cohesion so as to build a bonafide Zimbabwean identity which would be an alternative to the polarized current state of affairs.
Recommendations
Meeting to further discuss the findings at a later date and making the forum a series
Taking the recommendations of the meeting to be included in the UNDP document and plan
of action to be used for the next half-decade in partnership with government programmes.
Ensuring that the voices of the arts and culture sector are heard and kept robust
Attendees agreed on the need for a more holistic nationwide approach in order to
accommodate some of the voices that do not have access to the modern space such as
social media etc.
More time should be dedicated to the forum so as to explore more pertinent issues.
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