Artistes face transport challenges

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CHITUNGWIZA Arts Centre is planning to buy a truck to ease transport challenges faced by artistes at the centre.

CHITUNGWIZA Arts Centre is planning to buy a truck to ease transport challenges faced by artistes at the centre. By Our Staff

More than 200 sculptors at the centre rely on stones brought from Mvurwi, Guruve, Chiweshe, Chipinge, Nyanga as well as Kwekwe. In most cases they use private transport which is very expensive.

Chitungwiza-Arts-Centre

“This year we are running under the theme; Reflections. It’s a year to reclaim some of our goals like buying a truck and establishing a multi-media centre,” said Chitungwiza Arts Centre chairperson Taurai Tigere.

Tigere said the centre was mobilising resources to purchase the vehicle this year.

“We have $1 000 which was donated by a local company and we are looking forward to get such kind of assistance from our customers, exchange programme partners and the Chitungwiza community,” he said.

Artistes at the centre are forking out close to $400 to buy and transport three tonnes of stones to the centre.

Springstone, a black stone mined in Mvurwi and opal stone from Chiweshe are popular materials for sculptors at the centre.

Tigere said apart from ferrying stones, the truck will go a long way in delivering finished products to customers and can be handy during colleagues’ bereavement.

“The truck will make it easier for us to participate at important events like the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo and other trade shows. It will also come handy when we do outreach programmes,” said Tigere.

He said the centre was looking forward to setting up a multi-media centre to help artistes embrace technology.

“We are in need of a multi-media centre so that artistes harness the power of social media in marketing and identifying international expos and exchange programmes,” said Tigere.

He said the centre would engage more youths from Chitungwiza and surrounding areas to ease unemployment challenges.

“We believe 2016 is the year that we are going to grow and nurture the local market. We are going to engage youths so that they contribute positively to the development of the community,” he said.