Musa Makina
VETERAN arts administrator and Amakhosi Cultural Centre founder Continueloving Mhlanga has challenged the government to release at least 5 percent of revenue generated through tourism in Matabeleland North province to fund arts festivals in the province.
Ever since he moved to the rural area, in Lupane a few years ago, Mhlanga’s wife Thembi Ngwabi has managed to put up a district annual festival called Pupushangani.
Following this, Mhlanga, this week, registered his discontent with the way government has neglected the arts and culture in the province amid an avalanche of revenue collected through tourism.
“My wife came up with a festival, and this carnival is in a province where tourism is number one. We look at natural resources that are generating revenue in Mat North, talk of the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, timber, coal, gas and zinc,” said Mhlanga.
“We then look at all these and say which one can finance the people’s carnival. These are rural people who want their culture to be seen, something which can attract even more tourists in their own district,” Mhlanga told The Zambezi Times.
He added that as a result he was forced to engage the local legislator, Khumalo and requested him to escalate his proposal for 5 percent of the tourism money to be set aside for the arts festivals in the province.
“I gave him the proposals to take it to the Parliamentary Committee. Unfortunately, Khumalo went to Harare for good, when I asked him, he referred me to another MP in Lupane East. It’s sad,” said a dejected Mhlanga.
“We have the Shangano Festival being funded by the Swedish government yet we have the Victoria Falls, it’s embarrassing. The 5 percent we are requesting is not for me, but the locals.”
