NATIONAL Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) director, Elvas Mari has been pressured to step down from his position at the arts body after 16 years in to inject more life and energy into the council, sources have said.
BY LIFE&STYLE REPORTER
NewsDay Life & Style understands that pressure was brought to bear on Mari amid claims that Sport, Arts and Recreation minister Kazembe Kazembe is likely to dissolve the board soon, before the completion of its three-year term.
The board was appointed on July 1 last year by former Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage minister Abednico Ncube. Announcing the resignation, NACZ board chairman, Herbert Chimhundu, said Mari — who has investments in education — was stepping down to pursue other interests outside the arts.
“The board of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) would like to inform all partners, artists, and arts and culture stakeholders that Elvas Mari has resigned from his position, as director with effect from the March 16, 2018. Mari has served the NACZ with distinction for the past 16 years,” the statement reads.
“The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe will miss Mari’s visionary, strategic and professional leadership, which placed a high premium on integrity, servant leadership and good corporate governance.”
Mari has held senior positions in the NACZ since he joined the organisation in 2002, as the assistant director for arts promotion and development, before he was promoted to the position of deputy director in 2005.
He was elevated to the position of director in 2009 a position which he served for eight years before his resignation.
