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Showbiz Correspondent
BULAWAYO will this year host the celebrations that will see a fashion show, street marches and various cultural activities taking place. This year’s celebrations will run under the theme “Promoting Cultural Diversity and Inclusion” from May 17 to 24.  The celebrations are held annually worldwide with people encouraged to showcase their diverse cultures by wearing traditional regalia.

In a statement, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) spokesperson Cathrine Mthombeni said all was set for the provincial preparations.
“The launch marks the beginning of the celebration of the importance of cultural diversity throughout the country through various cultural and artistic expressions.

“Some of the activities done at the official launch include street marching by artists and cultural activists, fashion shows, music and dance performances, art and craft exhibitions and herbal medicine exhibitions,” said Mthombeni.

She said the theme was in line with the new constitution and other national policies.
“The theme is drawn to be in line with key cultural foundations of the new constitution as well as the government development blueprint, the ZimAsset.

The commemorations of Culture Week should be to encourage people and organisations to organise events to support diversity and inclusion,” said Mthombeni.
She said the diversity of culture should not leave out women, youth and people with disabilities.

“Culture Week should also be able to raise awareness nationwide on the importance of intercultural dialogue, supported by the inclusion in the constitution of all indigenous languages as official Zimbabwe languages.

“[It also seeks to] promote cultural practices and improve understanding and cooperation among people from different cultures,” said Mthombeni.

The Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity by Unesco in 2001 proclaimed May 21 of each year as the World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
NACZ inaugurated Culture Week in 2002 after it discovered that a day was too short a period to leave an impact on people.