BY STAFF REPORTER
In a notable session of the National Assembly held yesterday, Hwange Central Member of Parliament Daniel Molokele-Tsiye expressed his disappointment regarding the government’s lack of support for cultural events in Zimbabwe.
His comments came in light of the successful Mzilikazi Day event organized by the Mthwakazi kaMzilikazi Cultural Association over the weekend, which attracted a diverse crowd from across the country and the diaspora, particularly from South Africa.
“Thank you so much Hon. Speaker, good afternoon. My point of national interest is to congratulate the Mthwakazi kaMzilikazi Cultural Association for successfully organizing the Mzilikazi Day event which was held on Saturday over the weekend,” began Molokele, highlighting the significance of the event that brought together thousands of participants from various backgrounds.
Despite the event’s success, Molokele explicitly voiced his frustrations, stating, “Despite the fact that the event was a big success, one of the big concerns was that relevant government departments were visible in their absence.” He criticized the absence of key ministries, including the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, and the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage.
He further lamented the inconsistent government support for local cultural celebrations compared to foreign observances. “We are able to celebrate Valentine’s Day, we are able to celebrate other days that the Western culture teaches us, but when it comes to celebrating things that are local… we are still lagging behind,” he asserted, comparing Zimbabwe unfavorably to countries like Eswatini which actively promote their cultural events.
Molokele urged, “As Zimbabwe, we must learn from Eswatini and support events such as the one that we held on Saturday… we must be seen to be supporting it.” He emphasized the need for the government to embrace and promote cultural heritage, stating, “We must celebrate and encourage all districts, provinces, cultures, and all languages in Zimbabwe to organize such kinds of events.”