PROMETRA Zim to Host Symposium on Cultural Prese...

PROMETRA Zim to Host Symposium on Cultural Preservation

*POMETRA Zim chairman, Beven Munyengeterwa*

Zim Now Writer

As globalisation continues to shape modern societies, the preservation of local traditions and cultural identities has become increasingly vital. Recognising this urgency, PROMETRA Zimbabwe, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of traditional medicine, cultural heritage, and Indigenous knowledge systems, is set to make a significant impact through a symposium scheduled for the first week of May 2025.

The event, themed “Cultural Preservation: Embracing Hunhu/Ubuntu”, seeks to reignite the importance of local traditions and cultural preservation. It will focus on fostering heritage-based education, sustainable development, and addressing critical societal challenges in Zimbabwe and beyond.

Restoring Cultural Norms and Values

The symposium is poised to serve as a national platform for engaging government ministries, various stakeholders, and community leaders in a collective effort to restore and preserve Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage. In a recent interview, the founder and executive chairman of PROMETRA Zimbabwe, Beven Tendai Munyengeterwa, expressed his excitement about the event’s potential to restore cultural norms and values within society.

"This initiative supports Zimbabwe's Vision 2030 and the Pan-Africanism Agenda 2063, emphasising the importance of Hunhu/Ubuntu in fostering national unity and resilience," said Munyengeterwa. The symposium will address key societal issues such as drug abuse, early child marriages, teen pregnancies, mental health challenges, suicides, and more, aiming to connect cultural heritage with sustainable solutions.

Empowering Communities Through Culture

The event is expected to bring together a broad coalition of stakeholders, from government bodies to private sector entities, all with a shared commitment to preserving cultural identity. By incorporating cultural heritage into education and community development, PROMETRA Zimbabwe aims to empower youth, families, and communities to reconnect with traditional values and enhance national identity.

As part of its broader mission, PROMETRA also celebrates African Traditional Medicine Day on August 31 every year, highlighting the role of the continent's rich biodiversity of medicinal plants and herbs in promoting well-being.

Invitation for Collaboration

To ensure the symposium’s success, PROMETRA Zimbabwe is calling on funders, development partners, corporate sponsors, and community stakeholders to come together in support of this transformative initiative. Through collaboration, PROMETRA seeks to build a culturally enriched, socially cohesive, and development-driven Zimbabwe, where cultural preservation is at the heart of national progress.

By partnering with PROMETRA Zimbabwe, stakeholders will contribute to a future that values and upholds cultural identity as a critical component of sustainable development.