STORY: China-Zimbabwe cultural exchange event held to mark Africa Day
SHOOTING TIME: May 23, 2024
DATELINE: May 26, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:05
LOCATION: GOROMONZI, Zimbabwe
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the cultural exchange event
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SHEILA ZVAKURUMBIRA, Acting District Development Officer, Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training
3. various of the cultural exchange event
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): DAVID NKANKA, Student, University of Zimbabwe
5. various of the cultural exchange event
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): BELLE ENESI, Local student

STORYLINE:

Chinese firm Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ), together with the Confucius Institute at the University of Zimbabwe, held a cultural exchange event Thursday to mark Africa Day, which is commemorated annually on May 25.

Guests were feted with various cultural performances from China and Zimbabwe, including Chinese martial arts, Zimbabwean traditional dance, music, and poetry, at the event in a school in Goromonzi, a rural community in the East Mashonaland Province.

Traditional leadership, local government representatives, Chinese and local PLZ staff, and local school children attended the event.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SHEILA ZVAKURUMBIRA, Acting District Development Officer, Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training
"Today we were celebrating, we were doing a cultural exchange program with the Chinese friends. It is of paramount importance because it has strengthened the relationship between the Chinese and the Zimbabweans, and also to know Chinese culture and Zimbabwean culture."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): DAVID NKANKA, Student, University of Zimbabwe
"Unity is of a very important aspect. Through these performances, we have seen unity being enhanced between China and Zimbabwe. It continues to foster the relationship."

School children had an opportunity to experience Chinese calligraphy, painting, and tea at the cultural event.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): BELLE ENESI, Local student
"Today was my first time to drink Chinese tea, that was to taste and that tasted good. I was happy because that was the first time in my life."

Africa Day, a public holiday in Zimbabwe, is observed annually to celebrate the achievements of the Organization of African Unity, the predecessor of the African Union, from its creation on May 25, 1963.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Goromonzi, Zimbabwe.
(XHTV)