Notes from Senator David Coltart’s keynote address [Arts & Culture Indaba 2010]

February 18, 2010 by ZimboJam ·
Filed under: Arts & Culture Indaba 2010

David Coltart

Minister of Education, Sports, Arts & Culture, Senator David Coltart, gave the keyonote address at the opening of the Arts & Culture Indaba in Harare this morning.

The Indaba gives a platform to exchange and improve ideas. Indaba came at a time when the government has just established the Arts and Culture Department. We would like to make sure Arts and Culture is not drowned in Education. We need to build a national consensus for culture and national policy which will reflect a multi faceted culture of Zim. Ministry assists parastatals to be able to stand on their own. Income raised must include payment for contributors so that artists see the benefit of their efforts.

Language plays an important role. Pupils are taught in local language grade 1-3 but that is restrictive. Shona, English and Ndebele should be taught practically. The vast majority come without a practical aspect of the other language. We should enhance the unity of our country and encourage our children to communicate well with other languages.

In the coming months, the ministry will start the largest ever production of text books ever seen in the country for primary schools.
We need to view art and culture as a business. Right now we refer to it as something peripheral. We need to make sure artists are wealthy citizens like the other parts of the world. We have not managed to promote the arts industry and that is a major assignment for all of us. To help the GPD, the government established min of Ed Sport and Culture.

Combination of Arts, Sports and Culture is not by accident, there needs to be a synergy. Create employment, generate income, make sure artists benefit and the nation is entertained. We need a better understanding of ourselves thru culture and this can be achieved by conducting festivals. There are those who have asked “How a can mubhunu adequately uphold Zimbabwean culture? I am a good example, I believe I am in this job to make sure there is a committed person who makes sure our diversity is subjected in a proper way and make sure our voices are heard.“

It is our policy to make sure we present the best on the national scene, rebrand Zimbabwe because Zimbabwe has been negatively presented. Rebrand in a positive way. Arts and Culture has the role to show that Zimbabwe is a colorful country with so much on offer. Artists are ambassadors of good will. Ministry should have a smart partnership with the cultural sector.

Ministry got US$276million from the fiscus, the largest single allocation, but if you analyze it, the money is little. US$240 million goes to teachers’ salaries and US$36 million goes to the education of Zimbabwean children which means each child is entitled to just above $1 per month which is practically impossible therefore we need the corporate world to help out. We need your views in the making of the new constitution.

Tell the world: