The Sunday Mail
Kimberly Mhembere
NINE Zimbabwean learners scooped awards at the “My Dream” painting competition prize-giving ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in Harare recently.
The event was organised and facilitated by the China-Zimbabwe Exchange Centre and The Confucius Institute at the University of Zimbabwe.
The “My Dream” painting contest was co-hosted by the secretariat of the Chinese follow-up committee of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC), the China Manned Space Engineering Office and the Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in Africa.
The competition is part of a series of programmes designed to promote people-to-people exchanges and co-operation in space exploration between China and Africa.
The event ran under the theme “Talking with Taikonauts”.
“I am honoured to have the opportunity to present the awards to you; together, we will be attending the sky-land connective event for a direct dialogue with Chinese Taikonauts in space,” said Chinese Ambassador Zhou Ding during the prize-giving ceremony.
“I wish you, and all our young Zimbabwean friends, to thrive and become the pillars of this country. I also want you to bear in mind that China is always your friend.
“I sincerely hope that today’s event will help sow new seeds of science, art, friendship and dream in your mind, where I believe the seeds will take root, flourish and bear fruits,” he said.
Hope Mafiko (17), an Upper Sixth learner at Chisipite Senior School, was the only Zimbabwean to be selected out of 400 local submissions. She was also one of the first prize winners in Africa.
Eventual winners will take part at the sky-land connective event for a direct dialogue with the Chinese Taikonauts.
Mafiko said she felt honoured and happy for the achievement.
“It is not every day that I get an opportunity to collaborate with people outside of Africa, let alone a country as big as China,” said Mafiko.
The 17-year-old’s abstract painting, titled “One of the Best Interior Architects in Africa”, showcases her idea of what interior architecture should be like.
“My dream is to bring African countries into the limelight of modern architecture by making spectacular sceneries like the one I have just painted,” she added.
“I hope that one day, I will be able to bring futuristic and modern instalments to Southern African galleries and complexes, where all people, rich and poor, can see these wonderful lights and experience cutting-edge interiors.”
Asa King Zvihari (24), a fine art student at the National Arts Gallery of Zimbabwe School of Visual Arts and Design, also won recognition.
His colourful artwork, titled “All Africans are united and working together”, was a third-place prize-winning entry.
The piece advocates unity among Africans.
“It portrays the African continent as united, with people working together as one.
“The continent will use the same currency, people will collaborate like a family and there will be more equality among Africans,” said Zvihari.
Darren Samuel Abraham, Tiller Tatenda Maringa, Noor Qamar Shahzad, Zahrah Abdoola, Izwirashe Blessing Masvodza, Nicole Lebogang Njanjari and Jada Boyd are the other learners who received awards for their excellent work.
