Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
STAKEHOLDERS from Matabeleland South Province have welcomed the national dress set to be worn for the first time at this year’s Independence Celebrations in Bulawayo, saying it will serve as a source of identity for the nation.
This emerged during a Matabeleland South provincial stakeholders consultative meeting on the national dress which was held in Gwanda Town on Wednesday where stakeholders selected emerald lime as the suitable fabric for the national dress.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Gwanda District Development Co-ordinator, Ms Kiliboni Ndou said there was a need for the entire province, especially youths to embrace the national dress.
“We had discussions as a province and chose emerald lime as the suitable fabric for the national dress. The fabric we chose encompasses all cultures not only in Matabeleland South but the entire nation. It has colours of the flag, the Zimbabwean bird and the chevron pattern which makes it suitable.
“We will embrace the national dress and we hope youths will embrace it as well. The national dress is very important as it signifies unity and identity just as the national flag. We hope that as time goes on the national dress will not only be worn during State functions but we will have designated days where all citizens wear it,” she said.
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe programmes officer for Matabeleland South, Mr Percy Vela said the national dress was an important aspect of the nation’s culture. He urged designers to come up with designs that will be relevant to all age groups.
Speaking during the meeting, acting Matabeleland South provincial development officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small to Medium Enterprise Development, Mr Nhlanhla Magagula said each province had been tasked to select one fabric from four different samples which they saw fit for the national dress.
He said the most popular fabric will be used to make the national dress. Mr Magagula said a fashion show was going to be held in Harare on a date yet to be advised where designers will showcase various designs for the national dress using the chosen fabric and one design was going to be selected and adopted.
“The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small to Medium Enterprise Development has been engaged to focus on the issue of the national dress working together with the office of the First Lady. Each province has been tasked to select a fabric from four different materials which they see best to be used for the national dress. Once the fabric has been selected a fashion show will be held where designers will come up with designs they will showcase then one will be selected which will be the national dress. The national dress will be worn at this year’s Independence celebrations,” he said.
Mr Magagula said designers would be expected to come up with designs for executive, traditional and sports category.
The search for the national dress started in 2005 but did not yield any results, prompting the First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa to take it upon herself to ensure the programme succeeds.
Speaking on the matter in Harare recently, the First Lady said the national dress should reflect a lot more on the country’s traditions, history, national heritage and aspirations. She said it also had to be a tool that unites Zimbabweans as a people despite different cultural values and help in celebrating the country’s cultural diversity.
@DubeMatutu