Two hundred students have graduated from the Music Consultancy Society of Zimbabwe (MCSZ) Music Academy, as the institution positions arts education as a key driver of cultural preservation, digital innovation and economic opportunity.
The academy held its ninth graduation ceremony in Harare on August 8 under the theme, “Empowering Creative Excellence for a Digital and Sustainable Future.”
MCSZ founder and director Dr Assiel Tavonga Chipadza said the graduates were entering a creative economy increasingly shaped by technology and the demands of Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Curriculum.
“We live in an era where creativity is no longer viewed merely as entertainment or artistic expression. It is increasingly recognised as a powerful engine for economic growth, technological innovation, social transformation and sustainable development,” he said.
Chipadza said the global creative economy was creating opportunities in digital content creation, product design, cultural preservation, education, tourism and employment.
He said Zimbabwe’s artistic talent, cultural traditions and youthful population gave the country significant potential to benefit from the sector, adding that institutions such as MCSZ had a responsibility to equip students with skills that preserve cultural identity while embracing technology.
The academy offers programmes in Visual and Performing Arts, Music and Dance, Sign Language and Adjudication.
The 2026 graduating class comprised 136 Diploma in Visual and Performing Arts candidates, 25 Advanced Diploma in Music and Dance graduates, 21 Diploma in Sign Language graduates and 18 Diploma in Adjudication graduates.
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The ceremony also marked the academy’s first graduating cohort in sign language, highlighting its efforts to make creative education more inclusive.
Music producer and composer Clive “Mono” Mukundu welcomed the development, describing the inclusion of sign language training as a positive step for Zimbabwe’s creative sector.
“Some of the things that stood out to me were that this year marked the graduation of their first sign language graduates, as part of their inclusive policy, which is a welcome development,” he said.
The ceremony showcased Zimbabwean cultural expression through performances by graduates, musicians and traditional dancers.
Among the artists and guests were marabi musician Kireni Zulu, Mukundu, Munyaradzi Munodawafa, gospel musician Chirwa and sungura musician and educator Joseph Garakara, who was guest of honour.
Outstanding students were also recognised in various disciplines.
Violet Mawere won the Mbira and Marimba award, while Khathazile Ndlovu was named Most Dedicated Student. Yeukai Chisindi was recognised for Sign Language, Lancelot Zvorwadza for Guitar, Coleen Bosha for Organology, Josias Musindo for Ear Training, Doreen Gumbu for Visual Arts, Siphiwe Moyo for Adjudication and Tinashe Malvin Muneni for Saxophone.
The graduation underscored the academy’s approach of combining formal training with performance, cultural expression and practical creative skills.
For the graduates, the challenge now is to translate their qualifications into careers and enterprises across education, performance, cultural preservation, digital content and the wider creative economy.
