NACZ Executive Director Hails Creative Sector as Key Driver of Zimbabwe’s NDS1

National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) executive director Napoleon “Napster” Nyanhi has emphasised the critical role of the creative sector in achieving the country’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1). His remarks came during the launch of Chenhaka Trust’s new project, Shaping the Future of Zimbabwe’s Creative Sector, on Tuesday.

The initiative is designed to empower artistes and cultural leaders to actively influence policies that shape the arts and culture industry. Napster described the project as a direct extension of NACZ’s mandate to develop, promote, and regulate the arts.

“This initiative is not a departure from our mission; it is the bold, modern execution of it. It moves us from ad-hoc support to structured, systemic capacity building,” he said.

He highlighted the creative industries as central to national economic transformation. “Our national development strategies, including NDS1, emphasise economic diversification, job creation, and youth empowerment. The creative industries are a prime vehicle for this. This project positions NACZ as a key contributor to national economic goals, moving the sector from the periphery to the centre of the economic agenda,” Napster said.

Professionalising the creative sector remains a top priority for NACZ. Napster explained that the council seeks to empower artistes to produce high-quality, globally competitive work that authentically represents Zimbabwe. “This project is about equipping them to tell our stories compellingly. We all know the challenges – limited access to funding, insufficient business skills, and weak copyright protection. This is not a vague wish-list; it is a targeted intervention designed to address these gaps.”

Napster also called for unity and vision among stakeholders. “Let us be the generation that shapes a future where a child in Bulawayo with a guitar, a painter in Harare with a vision, or a filmmaker in Mutare with a story knows they can build a dignified, prosperous life right here in Zimbabwe. Shaping the Future of Zimbabwe’s Creative Sector is our vehicle — legitimate, necessary, and aligned with our highest purpose.”

He described the project as a roadmap for a thriving and sustainable creative economy. “I present to you not merely a project, but a strategic imperative, a collective roadmap to transition from a sector defined by potential to one of sustainable prosperity, global competitiveness, and cultural impact.”

Napster concluded by commending Chenhaka Trust, the Culture Fund, and the European Union for their support in making the initiative possible, highlighting the importance of collaboration in realising a stronger, professionalised creative industry in Zimbabwe.