NATIONAL Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) executive director Nicholas Moyo has called on prominent practitioners in the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) to establish and support community infrastructure projects as part of their social responsibility programmes.
Moyo made the remarks at the recent commissioning of the Nemashakwe Community Library and Information Resource Centre in Gutu. The centre is the brainchild of National Arts Merit Awards legend and accomplished poet and writer Chirikure Chirikure.
The solar-powered community library and information resource centre is located at Nemashakwe business centre in Gutu East.
He applauded the legendary poet for taking development to the people and promised to help the centre to source for novels and build linkages for future development.
“I hope the launch of this community programme by a legend in the CCIs will inspire young people from this area to take up the arts, especially the literary arts to further enrich our cultural diversity as Zimbabweans,” Moyo noted.
He added that youths should not be afraid of taking up careers in the CCIs given evidence of successful artists giving back to their communities.
“In line with the National Cultural and Creative Industries Strategy, NACZ is working with stakeholders to create strategies that will professionalise the sector and create safe spaces for the youth to practise their craft and make a living out of the arts.”
Moyo said the community library and information resource centre boasts 1 000 books ranging from novels to academic and professional books which cater for people from the age of 10 upwards.
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In addition, the centre has three working computers although there is still no internet connectivity.
A librarian has been employed to run the centre and offer computer lessons.
Chirikure also said he worked with the Nemashakwe Secondary School Students Association to seek sponsorship from the German embassy to drill a borehole at the school.
The borehole will enable the school to start income-generating projects which will help in developing it and paying fees for the less privileged.
“I am hoping that this initiative can inspire the young generation to become writers and change their mindset to refocus on development,” Chirikure said.
The library is a major boost to the remote community as it will help cover the gap in the education sector.
Most of the books at the centre are not found in any of the nearby schools giving learners access to rich reading materials which help in their studies.
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