MUTARE The farm invasions and violence perpetrated by Zanu (PF) during the constitution outreach programmes have negatively impacted the sculpture business in Zimbabwe, an official has said. (Pictured: Rasheas Mukwaira is one of the most talented young sculptors to emerge from Zim
The Chairman of Zimbabwe Sculpture Union, Samson Paradzai, said this at a one day workshop that was held in the city last weekend, aimed at improving sculpture business in the country.
The political situation has heavily impacted our business. Tourists view Zimbabwe as an unsafe destination. We want tourists to know that Zimbabwe is safe by selling them good sculpture. We can market Zimbabwe through our products, he added.
Sculptors attributed the decline to the continued slump in tourist arrivals from Britain, the largest consumer of sculptures.
The tourists are no longer coming and those that come are no longer willing to buy our products. I think the political situation has pulled us down, Paradzai said.
He added that the sculpture business had the potential of attracting tourists and increasing the inflow of foreign currency.
The sculptors urged the government, through the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality, to assist them in finding foreign markets to boost the countrys foreign currency inflows.
Post published in: Agriculture