Coltart endorses Artists’ Charter

By Sharon Muguwu

27 November 2011

Harare - In a milestone for the local arts industry, the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, endorsed the Artists’ Charter that was compiled last year in April.

The charter will see to it that the rights and interests of artists are protected by law in the new constitution.

It calls for guarantees that those writing the constitution recognised linguistic, artistic and cultural rights of the people of Zimbabwe in their diversity.

Speaking to the Daily News Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (Zimura) director Polisile Ncube, said it was a good thing that the minister had signed the artists’ charter.

“It helps a lot. That means our charter will be moved forward in the new constitution. We really want a single ministry that is ours alone. If you look at it there are approximately 11 ministries that have a thing or two with arts. Like us as Zimura we fall under the ministry of justice while the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) falls under the ministry of education and there is also the media ministry,” she said.

“If we have our own ministry it means that we will be more visible.  If we have our own ministry government will be forced to include us in their budgets as we will be on our own,” said Ncube.

Female jazz artist Dudu Manhenga said it is a powerful thing that has happened.

“When we have a charter it means we are beginning to formalise our industry which has been operating on a not so formal basis. It comes as a step towards formalising us,” she said.

She said the charter gives the basis to interact with the constitution making process so that it can be added on their behalf. “We will be standing on our own as artists and it is a good thing, it protects us.”

Raphael Chikukwa a curator at the National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe said he was not aware of the charter.

“I have been overseas for some time so I cannot really comment because I am not aware of the charter. I will have to read it first and see whether it is a good thing for us or not,” he said.

The Artists’ Charter for Zimbabwe states that there be:

ŸRecognition of the linguistic, artistic and cultural rights of the people of Zimbabwe in their diversity.

ŸProtection, preservation, promotion and development of all local languages, localities, works of art, monuments, sites, practises and natural resources which are of special cultural and artistic significance.

ŸEstablishment of culture, languages and arts national regulatory bodies with responsibility to regulate, promote and develop the culture, languages and arts in Zimbabwe.

ŸProtection, preservation, promotion and development of comprehensive culture, languages and arts policies that cover all the relevant sectors.

Ÿ Recognition and protection of the rights of artists as creative and professional workers in their chosen fields and of their right to share in the economic, scientific and technological advances of the modern world and their benefits.

Ÿ Creating a single government ministry with responsibility for the co-ordination of: (a) policy formulation and implementation to cover the diverse interests and activities of the culture and arts sector and (b) implementation of Unesco’s and other International Conventions on cultural heritage, cultural diversity, intellectual property and copyright ratified by the State of Zimbabwe.

Ÿ Active promotion of the national culture and arts sector at the international level by competent cultural practitioners, including attachés appointed and attached to Zimbabwean embassies in foreign countries.

Ÿ Appointment to positions of responsibility in statutory bodies for culture, languages and arts that are filled by transparent recruitment competition, with artists and cultural practitioners involved in the selection process or among those eligible as candidates.