Clive Thabo Dube
THE CULTURAL MONTH, witnesses all roads leading to Zimbabwe’s cultural hub, the City of Kings and Queens, to commemorate International Museums Day.
Running under the theme “Museums, Sustainability and Well- being” Primary School students converged at her Bulawayo Amphitheater to showcase their knowledge and challenge each others’ mental capabilities on the Southern country’s rich history and heritage.
The event in the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province kicked off with the entourage marching from Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo’s statue situated at the intersection of JMN Nkomo Street and 8th Avenue headed for Amphitheatre for the National Heritage Quiz Finals.
A total of ten teams from all corners of the country participated at this year’s competition and these included ; A.M.R Sisters Primary School (Matabeleland North), Beitbridge Govt Primary School (Matabeleland South), Chinyenyetu Primary School (Midlands), Dudley Hall Primary School (Mashonaland West), Helen Mcghie Primary School (Masvingo), Hugh Beadle Primary School (Bulawayo), Hurungwe Primary School (Mashonaland East), Mt. Melleray Primary School (Manicaland), Mt. Sunset Primary School (Harare Metropolitan) and Trojan Mine Primary School (Mashonaland Central).
Ten teams fought for top honors of the annual Heritage Education Quiz Competition which came in with the New Curriculum in front of distinguished guests.
The schools’ Heritage Quiz Competition is ran by National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) in collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE).
In attendance was Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Paul Nyoni who represented the Province’s State and Devolution Minister, Hon. Judith Ncube who could not attend. Other notable guests included National Museums executive director Dr. Godfrey Mahachi and Regional Director, Western, Dr. Moira Fitzpatrick.
International Museums Day is the day to celebrate the country’s culture and heritage, and was last held in 2019.
Coming from the two year hiatus, primary schools from the country’s ten provinces partipated in the contest which was fierce but Masvingo province prevailed to snatch the top honours and crowned champions. Relinquishing the title Mashonaland West, who came as the defending champions.
Chinyenyetu from the Midlands came third and Matabeleland South settled for forth position. Mt. Melleray and Beitbridge Govt Primary School were tied for 6th position while the country’s two Metropolitan provinces (Bulawayo and Harare) were a tier for position eight.
“It feels great to come up on top because in our stream, this is the first time we have ever won this cup. It is actually a third time, for the school to win, but in our stream this is the first time. So we feel really happy.” Said Tapiwanashe Shamu.
The winning captain added that the win came as a team effort and,
“When you are united there is nothing impossible so each person just has to compromise, whether there is something they do not like about some one it doesn’t matter. You have to compromise, work together, find common ground.”
Mashonaland West representatives where not so pleased to have come so close but failed to hold firm onto the gold. Aninafe Gotomhane, the Captain from Dudley Hall Primary School said the competition was tough this time around.
“The competition was tough because the answers we got wrong we actually did not research them or get them from resource persons which was actually tough.” He said.
The Heritage quiz programme is structured into five parts namely; the past, object identification, science and nature, the environment and lastly general knowledge.
Regional director for the Western Region, Dr. Moira Fitzpatrick said it was a privilege for Bulawayo to host the programme.
“This is a great celebration for Museums in Zimbabwe and a great privilege for us as the Western Region. This is because, the program brings everyone together from the education fraternity. It really has been excellent.” Dr. Fitzpatrick said.
The Western Region Director further urged the youths not to lose interest of their roots.
“You are your history, you need to understand where you come from so that you can correct it and move forward. Do not look at history as something dead in the past, it is who you are.” She concluded.