By Silas Nkala THE San community in Zimbabwe will officially open a cultural centre — the Tsholotsho San Cultural Heritage Centre, as well as commemorating the belated second decade of the International World’s Indigenous People later this month. The centre is being spearheaded by Creative Arts and Education Development Association (CAEDA), an organisation which seeks to uplift the living standards of the marginalised people.
CAEDA director Davy Ndlovu told The Standard that they had completed construction of the first phase and this prompted him to organise the official opening.
“The last phase is likely to be complete in two to three years’ time,” said Ndlovu.
He said most of the people in Tsholotsho were evicted from Nyamandlovu by the colonial government making it difficult for them to follow their traditional culture.
Ndlovu said his organisation would continue to lobby for the recognition of the San people and their culture in the country.
“We will robustly advocate for the rights of the minority ethnic clans and lobby for the promotion of their values,” said Ndlovu.
“The San have been living in social exclusion for the past years and it’s now time for them to be included in the mainstream economy and be given platforms where they can be able to articulate issues affecting them.” Zimbabwe is home to an estimated 1 200 San, most of whom live in abject poverty.
In 2004, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution for a Second decade International Day of the World’ Indigenous People, whose objectives are promoting the non-discrimination and inclusion of indigenous peoples in the design, implementation and evaluation of international, regional and national processes regarding laws, policies, resources, programmes and projects.
