MASHONALAND WEST SCOOPS SILVER IN TRADITIONAL DANCE AS TĤE TEAM MADE PROVINCE PROUD

By Azriel Chimeno

Mashonaland West Province has scooped Silver in Traditional Dance at the just ended National Association of Primary Heads( NAPH) National Choral, Percussion Band and Traditional Dance Festival held from 28-29 October at Bulawayo Amphitheater, leaving NAPH Mashonaland West Chairperson Amon Mlilo in cloud nine and NAPH Mashonaland West Head In Charge (HIC) Daero Jonas praising the team for making the Province proud.

The two-day fiesta saw Mashonaland West represented by Munyaradzi Primary School from Kadoma settling for second place behind eventual winners Harare Province,walking away with USD 1000 plus a floating trophy, as Government hailed NAPH for promoting cultural preservation.

From Wednesday to Thursday the Bulawayo Amphitheater was the centre of attraction as primary school talent from across Zimbabwe converged for the Festival hosted by Matabeleland North *(The Province that Thunders)* under the theme *”Celebrating our Heritage Through Sport, Music and Dance”*.

More than 2 000 audience filled the Amphitheater to overflow and were treated to song, rhythm and dance, graced by Permanent Secretary Moses Mhike, Guest of Honour Chief Director Olicah Kaira and all provincial Chief Directors.

While Harare Province dominated with Gold, Mashonaland West stole hearts and scooped Silver through Munyaradzi Primary School from Kadoma. The result left provincial leadership ecstatic, with NAPH Mashonaland West Chairperson Amon Mlilo in cloud nine and NAPH Mashonaland West Head In Charge Daero Jonas saying the team made the province proud.

Represented by Munyaradzi Primary School from Kadoma under Head Dadirai Chomusora, Mashonaland West delivered a polished, energetic performance that earned them Silver Medal USD 1000 plus a floating trophy behind Harare (Gold — USD 1500), ahead of Manicaland (Bronze).

Guest of Honour Chief Director in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Olicah Kaira hailed NAPH for promoting cultural preservation through sport, music and heritage.

“The national competitions in choral music, percussion and indigenous traditional dance are much more than annual school activities. They are an important expression of our commitment to holistic pupil development, cultural preservation, national identity and promoting creativity,”* said Chief Director Kaira.

Speaking soon after receiving the trophy in Bulawayo, Munyaradzi Primary Chief trainer Cephas Tafireyi Chikowore was satisfied with the results, but said he was going back to the drawing board:

“I am satisfied with the results, though we wanted the first prize. Silver at national level is not easy,”* said Trainer Chikowore.

“We are going back to the drawing board. The next traditional dance is Zhana Dance and we want gold for Mashonaland West and for Kadoma,” he concluded.

Munyaradzi Primary school Head Dadirai Chomusora Praised the trainers and the learners, and as well as the SDC:for working as a team to come up as second best in the country.

“I am so proud of our learners. They danced beautifully and came up second best in Zimbabwe,”* said Head Chomusora.

“I want to sincerely thank our SDC for providing all the necessary things needed for the team to succeed. Without the SDC, this silver medal, USD 1000 and floating trophy would not have been possible,” she said.

NAPH Mashonaland West Chairperson Amon Mlilo was in cloud nine because of the results, saying the silver medal is proof that Mashonaland West is rising.
“I am in cloud nine! This silver medal means a lot to Mashonaland West. To be second best in Zimbabwe out of ten provinces is no joke. Our children, our teachers, our trainers have made us proud,”* said Chairperson Mlilo.

“Munyaradzi Primary School from Kadoma carried the flag of the whole province with pride. They put Mashonaland West on the map. This shows that when we work together — schools, SDCs, districts, province — we can compete with the best,” he said.

“We congratulate Harare for gold, but we are coming for gold in 2027. Zhana Dance is next and Mash West will be ready,” added Mlilo.

NAPH Mashonaland West Head in Charge Daero Jonas praised the team for making the Province proud commending the learners, trainer and school leadership for their discipline and cultural excellence.

“As Head In Charge for NAPH Mashonaland West, I want to praise this team for making the Province proud. Munyaradzi Primary represented us with dignity, talent and true Zimbabwean culture,”* said HIC Jonas.

“Coming second in Traditional Dance at national level is a massive achievement. They competed against all nine other provinces and scooped silver, USD 1000 plus a floating trophy. That is the spirit of Mashonaland West — resilient, talented, and hardworking,” said Jonas.

“We thank the Ministry, we thank NAPH National under President Bonface Munyenyiwa, we thank our Provincial Education Director, our DSIs, our NAPH executive, the SDC and parents. This silver is for the whole province and our focus now shifts to Zhana Dance 2027 in Harare. We are going back to the drawing board as a province to ensure we convert this silver to gold,” said Jonas.

The curtain has come down on the NAPH National Choral, Percussion Band and Traditional Dance Festival and the wait is over and Mashonaland West vowes to claim the gold come next edition set for Hare Province.