Arts and Culture Correspondent
THE Matabeleland South Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe on Sunday apologised for failure to improve the road to Chief Tshitaudze’s Cultural Village where thousands of people gathered for the inaugural Tshitaudze Heritage Festival.
“We did not do well on this one, we should have made good the road coming to this event. We should have made his road better for this event and always,” said Nguluvhe.
He was making his welcome remarks and introducing guest speaker and Vice President Kembo Mohadi at the heritage festival which attracted thousands of people including the bulk of Chiefs from Matabeleland South.
Among the guests were a royal family from Mpumalanga, South Africa amd a paramount chief from Venda in that same country.
The road to the Tshitaudze Homestead in Mpande, about 100 kilometres west of Beitbridge town was only suitable for all-terrain vehicles and deterrent to people with smaller cars who might have wanted to attend, said Nguluvhe.
“Let me thank the Tshitaudze community and the Festival Committee for mobilising exhibitors, vendors and artists. You have given us a festival that truly lives our theme: “We Build the Nation Through Culture.”
The festival, he said, was more than dance and song but aligned directly with Vision 2030 and several national goals, particularly Heritage-Based Development and Devolution.
“Our President teaches us: Shango li fhatilwe, la vhusiwa nga vhane vhalo – A nation is built and governed by its own people. That is what you are doing today. Look around you. The crafts, traditional foods, Venda, Sotho, Shangani, Pfumbi and Ndebele fashion, artefacts and agri-products on display – this is our economy,” he said.
“Every stall is a job created. Every product sold is income for a family in Beitbridge. Heritage is an economic driver and culture is our identity.”
Dozens of enterprising villagers took the opportunity to make some money by selling produce ranging from preparrd meals to agricultural produce.
Nguluvhe said heritage is development and could be turned economic.
“As I have always said, we must move beyond celebrating history and begin turning our cultural wealth, natural resources and human capital into tangible development. Our diversity must never divide us; it must strengthen us.
“That is why Government fully supports this festival. Under Devolution, we are mandated to preserve culture, support SMEs, and promote tourism.”
“As a Province, we commit to three things: Infrastructure: Improving access roads to cultural sites like Tshitaudze. Funding: Supporting festivals and artisans through CDF and Devolution Funds. Market Linkages: Connecting local producers to regional and international markets.”
Nguluvhe said Beitbridge should not be just a transit town but a development hub and investment destination.
He asked Government Departments, ZimTrade, SMEDCO and the private ector to partner with SMEs to promote local trade and development.
Nguluvhe asked communities to be custodians of their own culture and asked youths o carry the torch.
“You are custodians of tomorrow. Embrace your language, dress, and traditions. They are your anchor.”
“A young person grounded in culture has discipline, confidence, and identity – ubuntu and respect for elders. That grounding is our strongest weapon against drug and substance abuse. I urge you, let us say No To Dangerous Drugs and choose education, entrepreneurship and culture.”
He brought light moments when he said drugs disturbed people from making children.
“Our Matabeleland population is small because people will be “sticking” (under heavy drug influence) and wasting time to make babies,” he said.
Nguluvhe appealed to women to take advantage of Government loans to do business.
“We will continue to support you in crafts, food processing and agri-business. Please register with ZimTrade and SMEDCO so we can help you grow beyond today into exporters.”
He said Matabeleland South is blessed to be home to many cultures and people should celebrate the same which they must also commercialise.
Nguluvhe thanked exhibitors and all who atended and said people in Zimbabwe must be proud of a shared nation and should have one destiny of prosperity.
“Let us celebrate together. We share one national identity and one destiny. Beitbridge is the busiest inland port in SADC. Heritage tourism must complement border trade. I invite investors to invest in cultural tourism, accommodation and value addition. Let us turn our liberation heritage sites and living traditions into jobs for our youth.”
“As we honour those who came before us, let us ask ourselves what we are building today. Let us buy local, support local, and preserve local culture,” he said.