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ZIMBABWE has a unique and thriving art and craft sector whose products are highly demanded on the international market.

The sector is mainly dominated by small players, with the majority of them concentrated around rural communities where natural resources are found in abundance.

Given the continued increase in exports from the sector, focus should be drawn on capacitating rural women who have potential to contribute more to national exports and improving market linkages.

The capacity building interventions should also ride on low hanging fruits, such as basketry. By celebrating ancient basket weaving forms embedded in contemporary weaving art forms, there is also room to promote the development of the creative arts and e‑orts of the local community to support sustainable development, mutual understanding and improving livelihoods.

Baskets are used for wall decorative, winnowing and table serving. All the baskets are made from natural raw materials. For basketry, attention to detail is required. The sector is predominantly a domain of women who constitute most of the weavers.

This art may be a lucrative income source for women should they be organized and have a comprehensive marketing strategy and plan. In Zimbabwe, rural communities such as Lupane, Nkayi, Buhera, Binga, Nyanyadzi have one of weaving talents with potential to do more. Already, the popular baskets from these areas have found an international market, bringing in much-needed foreign currency for rural communities.

What is required to increase exports from the sector is creation of stronger synergies between local artists and partners in regional and international markets to create sustainable local representation in foreign countries.

For example, Zimbabweans based in the diaspora play a critical role in promoting Zimbabwean arts and crafts in the same way they do for foods and other manufactured goods.

Networks, such as ‘ZimThrive’, that endeavor to direct foreign currency into the various industries such as tourism, business and entertainment through collaborations, creations and innovations of the diaspora communities must also develop keen interest in exporting Zimbabwean arts and crafts.

This will not only ensure a ready market for local artists but also increase the penetration of local cultures in international markets, which in turn will stimulate growth for cultural tourism in Zimbabwe.

Basketry is the art and craft of making interwoven objects, usually containers, from flexible vegetable ­bears, such as twigs, grasses, osiers, bamboo, and rushes, or from plastic or other synthetic materials.

Storage baskets are the ones that are popularly known but there are also many products that were weaved long ago, and they include sleeping mats, wine straining, winnowing, sandals, hoppers for seed-sowing. Common methods of basket weaving are coiling, plaiting, twining, and wicker.

Originally baskets were used for traditional functions. The range of baskets with designs inspired by nature depict the cultural values of the weavers. Credible business to business engagements can also help grow exports of arts and crafts.

Currently, there are e‑orts to link local artists with international buyers undertaken by ZimTrade with some promising results as some inquiries have been received from international markets.

As more businesses are taking part in online trade fairs, women artists should complement e‑orts by ZimTrade and other institutions by actively participating in virtual exhibitions.

ZimTrade has already launched Shop@Zim, an online platform expected to improve linkages between local artists and buyers from across the world. Further to this, stronger market linkages for the arts and crafts sector can be formed through intensive synergies with the tourism industry and local communities.

The history and myths behind some local arts and crafts can be a key selling proposition in developing the market linkages with the tourism sector.

For example, myths and facts around most rural communities could be packaged together with baskets sold around the world, which in turn could help in improving sales of such products.

This has worked in countries like Swaziland where products of arts and crafts can ­find their way in national dressing, rooted in national history and heritage. Those with appreciation into this heritage will market the products in their circles and networks thus creating added value for these products.

Imagine what such a concept would do for our local Zimbabwe fabrics used to identify with the country.

-ZimTrade Newsletter