Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor David Coltart says more effort needs to be put to market history , culture and heritage sites at Matopos in order to boost tourism.
Cllr Coltart was speaking at the tenth anniversary celebrations of the My Beautiful Home project which was held at Amagugu Heritage Center on Friday.
The women in Matopos have been participating in the program through painting their huts using different types of soils obtained from river banks and clay that they make using various natural resources. They have also grown to molding clay flower pots that they sell to generate income.
Cllr Coltart said with adequate marketing, more tourists can be attracted to enjoy the views while mountain biking, horseback riding or walking in the area to appreciate and buy the art work created by the local people.
“Those of us who ride through the Matopos, we do not only see your wonderful art but we see your spirit. We see that even in the difficult situations that you face, even the poverty that you experience, and this year in the drought, and in the hunger that many of your families are experiencing, you produce this world class art. It is a world class representation of your history and your culture and it is simply wonderful. We are grateful to all those who have brought to us the glory of your work,” he said.
“You need money and it is true. Since I assumed office, I have been wondering how we can reinvent the city. One of the key elements is tourism. It is a fact at present that most tourists coming go to Victoria Falls and other areas. Very few come to Bulawayo, to the Matopos. It is completely under marketed. Yet the Matopos is a world heritage site. It is one of the most beautiful places worldwide.
“It is an area of deep historical and cultural significance and artistic significance with our rock art and white rhinos and the fact that Kung Mzilikazi is buried here, and other people like Cecil John Rhodes. It should be one of our major resorts. That’s when I come to your art. What this is today is the start. Your art is not known to the whole world yet.”
Cllr Coltart said new media technologies can be used to map out the areas that have painted houses to direct tourists when they come.
“We have to devise means to ensure that the world can see this art. We appreciate that it is difficult. Almost 800 homes here now practice this art. We know exactly where they are and we can mark this on maps using modern technology then we can take people either on mountain biking or horse back to see this art,” Cllr Coltart said.
“We need to take it beyond just seeing houses, we need to open the housss to them so that they can get a full cultural experience. We have curios stand close to Rhodes grave but it is under subscribed. We should have lots of tourists buying that art and culture.”
United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Pamela Tremont, applauded the work done by the local people for their consistency and revitalization of traditional art.
“The United States, through U.S. Embassy’s Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, provided support through the Friends of the National Gallery in Bulawayo for the preservation of Ndebele art and architecture in 2016. The project researched the symbolism of hut painting leading to the publication of a book and DVD, which contributed to global research and understanding on the Ndebele hut painting practice,” Tremont said.
“Congratulations to Amagugu, the National Gallery, and Ekhaya GAIA on the 10-year anniversary of the My Beautiful Home project. Thank you to the women and girls of Matobo for revitalizing and sustaining this beautiful cultural practice.
“This initiative is even more impressive, because you have had consistent stakeholder involvement and local investment for a decade. Kudos to the local leadership in Matobo and the private sector for actively supporting My Beautiful Home and revitalizing this amazing tradition.”
