Branton Matondo

The dwindling art market has led to low consumption of paintings and sculptures placing artists’ livelihood at risk, the National Arts Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) Manicaland province has said.
Though a lot of Zimbabwean and African stories are told through expressive curving of stones and fine revealing of paintings, the same effort is not being complimented by the bearish market.
In an interview with TellZim News, NGZ Regional Director for Manicaland Elizabeth Muusha said the consumption of paintings and sculptors is currently in a sorry state and this has casted a dark cloud on artists livelihoods.
“Consumption of art is very low and it’s really affecting livelihoods of producers. It is our wish that we see better and improved markets in post Covid 19 era,” said Muusha.
A survey at National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Mutare revealed that sculptures on sale range from US$ 200 to US$ 350.
She added that artists are left out of National economic blueprint National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1) because there is no market to propel them.
“As a nation, we talk of taking Zimbabwe to a middle income economy by 2030 but as arts sectors, our hearts bleed because there is no market. There is a gap when it comes to understanding the power of painting and sculptor. It is our wish to have a stable market so that artistic works are recognized,” said Muusha.
Standard Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) Business Development and Marketing Manager for Manicaland Nelia Chabuka promised that SAZ will assist artists in breaking existing barriers.
“As SAZ, the question that comes to our minds is, what role are we playing to make these artists go further and compete internationally? So we have standards in place that will assist them to break all the barriers, be it quality barriers or language barriers to mention but a few. Whatever they are using in the art and whatever they producing is it of good quality?” said Chaduka.
She added that artists should stand their ground and let their voices be heard.
“Regions like Manicaland do not appreciate art, so it’s high time that they should stand up for their own and make their stories known. It starts with them and no one else,” she added.
As a way to enrich the culture of appreciating art, Muusha said government needs to review the education curriculum and make art one of the main subjects.
“The education system is not recognizing art. Art time is composition writing time or correction time or gardening time. There is need to review the education system,” added Chaduka.

Zvikomborero Sibanda

In the past two weeks, my arguments were resonating well with dollarization proponents. I, however, cautioned that dollarization must not be a long-term solution to Zimbabwe’s existing challenges. With time, it is more damaging, especially to small import-dependent economies like Zimbabwe.
The rapid re-dollarization of the economy experienced last year as evidenced by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s (RBZ) metrics is an economic policy awakening to a historical fact that dollarization is nearly permanent.
The only escape gate is through the implementation of prudent market-driven policies and reforms taking examples from among a few countries like Poland and Israel that successfully de-dollarized their economies.
But the reluctance by responsible authorities to implement robust reforms risk cementing Zimbabwe’s position as a permanent member of the globally dollarized economies. To me, dollarization only postpones the problems, which is why I support it to be part of a solution set only for the short-to-medium term horizon.
Zimbabwe has been recycling its socio-economic and financial challenges since 1980. Hence, the persistence of adverse expectations, currency volatility, high inflation, dilapidating infrastructure, high cost of doing business, poor public service delivery, and abject poverty.
With the rapidly shaping African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA), permanent dollarization will be a big challenge for domestic firms. As such, swift policy actions must be taken now lest Zimbabwe plunges into a self-isolation camp away from AfCTA freely trading partners. With USD use, local firms will be rendered uncompetitive thus forcing Zimbabwe to institute protectionist trade policies and import substitution measures.
What actions then must be taken by the government to circumvent the looming economic disaster? As explained earlier, authorities must embark on a well-prepared reform agenda. I am glad that the government has taken the public debt resolution route.
Western creditors have been clear since early 2000s that Zimbabwe must reform its economy, public institutions, political systems, and state-owned enterprises as a prerequisite to receiving debt relief.
With the government now laser-focused on tackling the debt conundrum, it signals its willingness to institute needed reforms. In essence, the government and its creditors will be exchanging debt relief and reforms.
Some readers may have reservations about the prioritization of debt. As a fan of debt resolution, let me briefly provide some context of why it debt resolution is critical.
Zimbabwe is inarguably rich in natural resources including those facing high global demand. But minerals require huge investments into exploration, surveying, and heavy machinery to be located, quantified, extracted, and transformed into finished products.
Guided by the development models followed by China and other Asian Tigers like Japan and South Korea, rapid economic transformation is only possible in a friendly business operating environment that attracts foreign investors.
Due to increased financial repression, many developing nations are largely characterized by shallow domestic financial markets. Inevitably, external sources of finance must be explored to augment and support these weak domestic financial markets.
Access to finance is a precondition for progressive development as many investors use debt financing from reputable international financiers to fund major projects. Furthermore, to import raw materials and other key supplies abroad, many players including foreign banks are also involved in this transaction value chain.
However, because of the US Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) financial restrictions on Zimbabwe coupled with an expanding public debt, many foreign corresponding banks are now shunning the Zimbabwean market as a de-risking strategy.
In other words, unsustainable public debt stock is increasing the country’s investment risk premium. A risk and return analysis would show many potential investors and credit providers avoiding heavily indebted nations to minimize default risks.
So, to reduce debt-related risks and increase access to cheap external sources of finance, the debt problem must be resolved. It comes with a package of reforms to increase transparency and accountability in government. This is also one of the key drivers of private-sector investment.
Last month, Zimbabwe held a high-level structured debt dialogue with its creditors and development partners. The dialogue was attended by the President of Zimbabwe, senior government officials, former Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano, African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and civil society organizations among others. This debt dialogue shows that authorities are now committed to resolving the ballooning debt currently standing at US$17.6 billion – about 65% of the national output (GDP).
While this debt level is consistent with the Public Debt Management Act which caps Zimbabwe’s debt-to-GDP ratio at 70%, it is exceeding the 60% threshold set by the Southern Africa Development Community’s (SADC) macroeconomic convergence targets.
More so, accumulating arrears and penalties show that Zimbabwe is in debt distress, that is, it is struggling to pay its debt and restructuring is required. These arrears and penalties are now constituting 45% of total external debt (US$14 billion) with the bulk (62.6%) being owed to bilateral creditors.
Over the years, Zimbabwe has tried to resolve its unsustainable debt stock to no avail. Doomed past initiatives include the 2015 Lima Process, the 2012 Zimbabwe Accelerated Arrears Clearance Debt and Development Strategy (ZAADS), and the 2010 Sustainable and Holistic Debt Strategy.
However, this time, it is likely that the ongoing debt dialogue processes will bring positive results. The intuition behind this position is the inclusion of a facilitator in one Joaquim Chissano. Former President Chissano is an elder statesman, seasoned politician, and diplomat who is crucial in cultivating political will to implement direly needed reforms.
Also, adding clout to the dialogue is the roping in of AfDB chief, Dr. Adesina, an economist and banker, as Zimbabwe’s debt champion. Dr. Adesina fully understands the demands of instituting economic and institutional reforms. By virtue of also representing Zimbabwe’s major creditors, the AfDB chief will be key in negotiating debt relief including the possibility of removal or suspension of sanctions. This is needed to reduce Zimbabwe’s investment risk premium thus improving capacity for debt servicing.
For full debt relief, creditors are demanding that Zimbabwe institute robust economic, governance, and land tenure reforms. These reforms fit squarely to Zimbabwe’s aspirations of durable macroeconomic stabilization through the restoration of market confidence in the Zimbabwe dollar (ZWL), thwarting of prevailing market pricing distortions, improving competition, encouraging disruptive innovation, and strengthening public institutions that are regarded by development economists as the rules of the game.
More so, land tenure reforms that seek to strengthen the protection of land rights including the settlement of a US$3.5 billion Global Compensation Deed to former farm owners will likely bring closure to the chaotic and bloodbath fast-tracked Land Reform Programme of the early 2000s. Thus, paving way for increased agricultural production and productivity through reduced reliance on state subsidies and increased farmers’ access to finance.
Nevertheless, the timing of the ongoing structured debt dialogues is worrisome and may likely constrain progress. It is generally difficult to garner full political will for robust implementation of reforms like political and electoral reforms from a government facing a re-election year. The quest to win an electoral vote, especially in its rural stronghold will likely force the ruling political administration to continue spending excessively and unsustainably.
Be that as it may, the initiation of these debt discussions is a move in the right direction which has the potential, post 2023 election period, to bring a lasting solution to Zimbabwe’s decades-long debt distress.

Zvikomborero Sibanda is an economic analyst and an astute researcher. He writes in his personal capacity. He can be contacted via email:

bravosibanda@gmail.com
Twitter: @bravon96

Cephas Shava

Mwenezi-Zimbabwe Empowerment Trust (ZIMET) recently donated an assortment of food hampers to some elderly from across Mwenezi district.
The donation handed over at the local authority’s Rutenga Council Hall in the presence of ZIMET president Alexia Kuona saw a total of 72 elders receiving a hamper comprising 5 kg mealie meal, 4 kg rice, 2 kg sugar and 2 litres cooking oil among several other assortments.
Speaking at the handover event, Kuona urged the recipients to embrace the culture of giving in their respective communities before encouraging them to embark of self-sustaining projects.
“As you receive these food hampers, we also encourage you to cascade the spirit of giving to those whom you are residing with in your villages. We are not here to just give you something to immediately consume but we need you to be shining examples in your various communities, initiating self-sustaining projects. We need you to be ZIMET’s key ambassadors in your respective homes,” said Kuona.
The organization’s provincial secretary Leonard Chanyau told TellZim News that they are also working on empowering villagers in marginalized communities to self-sustain and currently they have embarked on diverse trainings, among several farmers in Mwenezi’s ward 13 on silage and cake making.
ZIMET’s donation ceremony was graced by Mwenezi District Development Coordinator (DDC) Isaac Mutambara who praised the organization for its helping hand and urges its patrons to continue with the good works towards needy communities in the district.
ZIMET is an organisation whose vision is to become a respected socio-economic trust relevant to the empowerment of the people of Zimbabwe through access to their natural heritage.

Precila Takabvirakare

For Our Children (FOC) organization last week donated 55 bicycles to three high schools in Gutu district with about 55 girl children benefiting, 20 being from Domborembavha, 20 from Mushayavanhu and 15 from Mpandawana High Schools.
FOC is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) born out of realization that the economic conditions in the country are increasingly difficult for some families to provide adequate academic essentials for their children to pass their studies hence they need help.
The programme also aims to empower girl children from the marginalized communities so that they can excel mostly in science subjects.
Speaking at the handover ceremony at Mushayavanhu High School, FOC director Sissy Chinhamo urged the learners to be focused as they are trying to provide essentials for them to succeed.
“We are giving you these bicycles so that you can come to school early, so be motivated, read your books and be someone in life. We are playing our part by providing you with essentials, so you should play your part by reading.
“You are our seeds; we know if you succeed, you are going to have an impact in the society as you will be able to help others just like the way you are being helped. So I encourage you to be serious for the benefit of others,” said Chinhamo.
Mushayavanhu High School head Alex Gandiwa appreciated the support that their learners are getting from FOC and encouraged students not to misuse the bicycles.
“We really appreciate the support that you are giving our learners, first it was text books and solar lantern lamps, now its bicycles. The text books and reading lamps helped these learners as we noticed an improvement in their performances, therefore we encourage them to take this support seriously and keep on focusing on their studies. We also advise them to use their bicycles well and not to abuse them or divert the use,” said Gandiwa.
Previously the organization donated reading modules and solar lantern lamps to the learners.

Branton Matondo

Manicaland arts family converged at National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) last Friday (March 10) to exhibit seven art works done by seven female artists.
The exhibition dubbed ‘HEAR MY STORY’ was pinned on emotive pieces produced by Elizabeth Madondo, Jane Chipara, Eurbetina Muganhu, Charmaine Chitate, Patience Mutyukira, Sandra Jennifer Matamisa and Tariro Gurira.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) Business Development and Marketing Manager for Manicaland Nelia Chabuka who was also guest-of-honor commended the participation of young women as Zimbabwe and the world at large commemorates International women’s month.
“Zimbabwe and Manicaland celebrate this day aimed at encouraging society to embrace equity. The National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Mutare celebrates this day through an exhibition where six women presented their art works. We commend these women for being brave enough to tell their story through talents in fine arts.
“Art pieces in showcase unleashed fallen feelings and issues (inner and outer) that women encounter and deal with,” said Chaduka.
Rusape born artist Jane Chipara told this publication that the idea behind her piece called ‘Torn Apart’ is all about sexual harassment experienced by women.
“In Torn Apart, I was talking about sexual abuse and the painting in itself shows how someone is torn apart after being sexually abused. Sometimes women are abused by relatives and it takes time to tell someone let alone heal. In most cases if she does, blame is put on her because no one is attentive to what she is saying,” said Chipara.
However, for Patience Mutyukira who resides in Bocha, the story behind her four part painting narrows down to life of a single parent.
The painting blatantly delves into her single parenting life magnifying the challenges and meager sweet moments of her life journey.
“The inspiration of my piece stems from how single I am. I am a single parent raising up my children. Looking back, I grew up as a talented young lady and my mother used to draw. My brother was also good at drawing even my children are talented. I did my ceramic course in Bulawayo and then I came here in Manicaland. I fell in love but it all went south. In raising my children it was difficult. I then went to the school where my children were studying and we agreed that l will do some paintings for them. From then onwards, I have been rising,” she said.
Although most of the paintings sharpened the wailing voice of a woman, there was also an element of equity.
For blossom fanatic Tariro Gurira, her piece aroused paradoxical pulse that is adorned by beauty and rigged by struggle.
Her perfectly positioned flowers dominated by pink and red color pigment nakedly reveal the beauty of women but behind lay sharp, dry thorns portraying emotional struggles.
Raramo Yangu by Eurbetina Muganhu joys down on how a woman should support her husband in bad and good times.
Her inspiration is channeled from her grandmother who has been a pillar of advice.
While sharing sentiments at the exhibition NGZ Regional Director for Manicaland Elizabeth Muusha said women are resilient beings during these demanding times.
“Women are the strongest animals on the planet because they go through a lot. They are not only good at showcasing their talent but also most importantly are good purveyors of motherhood,” said Muusha.