Mbira Festival Celebrates Culture & Boosts Zimbabwe’s Tourism Growth

Mazowe, Mashonaland Central — In a vibrant celebration of heritage and economic drive, the Culture and Heritage Tourism Cluster was prominently showcased at the Baradzanwa Cultural Village in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central Province during the recent Mbira Festival.

The event, which took place during the ongoing Culture Month commemorations, was officially officiated by Her Excellency The First Lady, Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa, serving in her capacity as the Patron of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, and Culture and Heritage Ambassador. A major highlight of the festival was the official launch of the Mbira Virtuous publication, an initiative aimed at documenting and promoting Zimbabwe’s rich cultural assets.

Preserving Heritage, Driving Growth

The festival arrives just months after the rollout of the transformative campaign, “Nhaka Yedu, Ilifa Lethu, Our Heritage.” This movement reflects Zimbabwe’s escalating efforts to preserve its cultural roots while leveraging tourism as a vital pillar for community empowerment and macroeconomic development.

Rooted in the Heritage-Based philosophy championed by His Excellency President Cde. Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa, the festival celebrated the Mbira not merely as a musical instrument, but as the “heartbeat of the Nation” and a sacred symbol of Zimbabwean spirituality, identity, and cultural expression.

A Unified Government Strategy

The Mbira Festival successfully highlighted a seamless collaboration between key state entities, specifically the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture.

This combined effort underscores the “Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society” approach championed by the Second Republic to safeguard the nation’s treasured Mbira heritage.

Tourism Sector Registers Strong Gains

As Zimbabwe continues to reposition its culture as a source of national pride and economic empowerment, the strategic focus is paying off. The tourism sector continues to register highly encouraging growth metrics for the year:

Officials noted that these positive numbers demonstrate the increasingly critical role that tourism plays in overall National Economic Development. The festival itself put a spotlight on the massive business potential embedded within Zimbabwe’s Cultural and Creative Industries—spanning instrument production, live performances, festivals, crafts, hospitality services, and curated cultural tourism experiences.

Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development

Beyond the music and economic statistics, the festival underscored the vital importance of safeguarding Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). Keynote discussions emphasized the need for intergenerational knowledge transfer and the active involvement of traditional leaders as the ultimate custodians of Zimbabwean culture and heritage.

Looking forward, stakeholders issued strong calls to institutionalize the Mbira Festival as an annual National event. By bringing together communities, local artists, businesses, and global tourists, the initiative aims to leverage Zimbabwe’s culture as a competitive economic asset.

Organizers stress that this cultural momentum will remain a primary driver for job creation, youth empowerment, and community development as the nation marches toward the attainment of Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2.0.