THE HONOURABLE VICE-PRESIDENT AMAI JOICE MUJURU,

THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF EDUCATION, SPORT & CULTURE, MR ANEAS CHIGWEDERE

THE HONOURABLE GOVERNOR & RESIDENT MINISTER, MR RAYMOND KAUKONDE

THE DIRECTOR & UNESCO RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE, PROFESSOR JUMA SHABANI

CHIEF MANGWENDE, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, ENTERTAINERS, LADIES & GENTLEMEN, GIRLS & BOYS,

GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU ALL!

With great pleasure, I join you today in this launching ceremony for an important project implemented by UNESCO under its 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage supported by the Japanese Government within the framework of the Japanese Funds-in-Trust.

Today, I am pleased to mention that Zimbabwe is one of the countries that have benefited from this support.

The main thrust of this project is to safeguard intangible cultural assets that reflect a dynamic culture originating and developed as entertainments for the masses. We all know that culture is very important especially in this era of globalization. In a worldview that recognizes multiple values, the traditional cultural expressions like we are witnessing today help individuals in identity

discovery. Traditional cultures are very important for they help a people know where they came from and lead them to where they are today.

In Japan for example we have our own traditional cultures that are more than 2000 years old. The city of Kyoto is endowed with UNESCO World Cultural Heritage assets that include temples, arts, crafts and Japanese scenery.

For the record, let me mention that the Japanese National Television (NHK) has been screening programmes on World Heritage Sites. The Victoria Falls was among those that were screened and more recently, there was a documentary on another World Heritage Site, the Great Zimbabwe, which was screened on the same network. Therefore, I can say that many Japanese know that Zimbabwe succeeds to its own unique culture and your culture impressed many of us.

Nowadays, the world is deeply connected by developments of communication such as internet and satellite televisions. Inevitably, the acceptance, adaptation, and export of culture have also brought internationalization and globalization to Japan. Japanese manga (comics) and anime (cartoons) have been accepted internationally although they recognize traditional cultural expressions embodied of Japanese values.

I would like to commend UNESCO for its prominent role in implementing projects that safeguard World Cultural Heritage assets in collaboration with various arms of the Government of Zimbabwe.

With these few words please have a pleasant and fulfilling day

THANK YOU. TATENDA

(End)

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