The operationalisation of the long-awaited National Arts and Heritage Council (Nahec) is on course following the allocation of K708 million.
Director of Arts in the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture Humphrey Mpondamanga confirmed yesterday about the development saying it comes following a successful meeting with the Treasury.
“K708 million has been allocated to Nahec. Of course it is not enough but for now this is okay for a start and to lay the foundations and then there will be some improvements in future,” Mpondaminga said.
This also comes after Mpondaminga said recently that the funding issue for Nahec was crucial and that it was one of the important matters presented when ministry officials met with members of the Social and Community Affairs and the Local Authorities and Rural Development Cluster.
Nahec Taskforce spokesperson Ron Muphuwa said they wanted the Ministry of Finance to do more having requested for K3.78 billion but they were appreciative for the gesture.
“We also recognise the pressure that the government has to allocate financial resources to other equally important sectors. So, we appreciate the gesture in providing the K708 million and look forward to seeing the groundwork which is going to be done,” Muphuwa said.
He said they were also looking forward to next year when they will remind the government of the pledge to fully fund Nahec.
Special Adviser to President Lazarus Chakwera on Creative Industries, Q Malewezi said yesterday that the President remains fully committed to making Nahec a reality, a commitment he has reaffirmed at Sona for the Youth events and in numerous engagements.
“There have been several meetings that have been done and the results is the K708 million that has been allocated. This underlines the commitment of the President and his love for the development of arts and culture in the country,” he said.
Q said the full realisation of Nahec remains a top priority for the Chakwera administration.
“In 2024, President Chakwera assured the arts and culture community that laws to promote and regulate the sector would be enacted – and he delivered. The bill was tabled in Parliament, passed and assented to in record time, a clear demonstration of his dedication,” he said.
The K708 million allocation is good news to the creative sector as recently they petitioned President Chakwera for consideration of funding in the 2025/2026 national budget for Nahec.
In the petition, the creatives justified funding for Nahec indicating that the cultural and creative industries are among the fastest growing economic sectors worldwide stressing that the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development reported that trade in creative goods and services totalled US$624 billion in 2011 with an annual growth rate of 8.8 percent.
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