NESTLED in the Rockview area of Zengeza, about a kilometre off Chitungwiza Road, Panyatsime Heritage and Cultural Centre has grown into an unsung sanctuary for different indigenous trees, a natural habitat that is providing something wonderful and worth exploring in the town.
Panyatsime is bringing light and smiles to Harare’s dormitory town of Chitungwiza, a place that has hit headlines mostly for the wrong reasons. Panyatsime boasts of 45 different indigenous trees with medicinal, nutritional and cultural value with the variety of berries and other indigenous fruits, providing a home for a variety of bird species and other small creatures.
The natural landscape that includes rocks and the green scenery are an inevitable attraction to any visitor — locals and foreigners alike — especially when you factor in the traditional homestead that the centre added on site.
Speaking at the Global Community Engagement Day recently, founder and chief executive officer of Panyatsime Heritage and Cultural Centre, Rumbidzai Dihwa noted that at a time when globalisation threatens to erode cultures, heritage education becomes a powerful tool towards the restoration of national pride and self-worth among learners.
Beyond cultural preservation, the centre is equipping visiting learners with practical skills in arts and crafts, agriculture, environmental management and entrepreneurship, ensuring education translates into sustainable livelihoods.
“Our approach recognises that education must empower communities economically,” said Dihwa, adding that the centre is complementing the government’s efforts towards reasserting Zimbabwean identity in learners.
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“The Ministry has taken commendable steps towards implementing a Heritage-Based Curriculum aimed at fostering appreciation for the rich cultural diversity of our nation.
“When learners and institutions visit, we are speaking the same language as the curriculum,” she said, adding the alignment reinforces values of identity, heritage and cultural awareness.
“Our work is not only about teaching history but also about strengthening cultural awareness among present and future generations,” Dihwa added. She said several schools visited last year and these will serve as reference points for other institutions keen on visiting the centre.
In an interview with IndependentXtra after the Global Community Engagement Day, Dihwa said: “About 90 primary and secondary schools — drawn from both private and public institutions — visited Panyatsime in 2025 alone.
“These include Zengeza 4 Primary, Marlborough Primary, Lyndell House, Lomagundi College, Wise Owl School and Arundel Girls just to mention a few.
“However, one of the biggest challenges we face is that of accessibility as the road that links the centre and the highway is in dire need of repair as it has presented difficulties for our visitors although we are quite close to the highway.” Dihwa added that there are plans to put up accommodation and conference facilities at the centre in order to attract a wider spectrum of visitors.
“Plans are underway for accommodation facilities and a conference centre at Panyatsime as we intend to introduce activities such as team building sessions for corporates and other institutions,” the Panyatsime boss said.
Dihwa said the homestead was constantly being improved in line with Panyatsime’s thrust to be as culturally inclusive as possible.
Currently it has gota (boys’ bedroom), nhanga (girls’ room), sikiro (father’s bedroom), imba yekubikira (kitchen — with most of the utensils used in a traditional African home), dura/hozi (grain store) with compartments that serve as silos for different grains. The homestead also has a dare (court where the men would sit and discuss issues) and cattle as well as goat pens.
Traditional tools such as duri (mortar) and guyo (grinding stone), a variety of clay pots and baskets that not only reflect deep artistry consistent with African tradition but will also help visitors understand the traditional Zimbabwean homestead and how it functioned.
According to the centre’s heritage officer Ashley Lilyosa Maganzo, the centre continues to position itself as a model for curriculum integration, community participation and heritage-driven development in the country, particularly for schools.
“We are leveraging on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to showcase unique, shareable and culturally relevant content that appeals to local and international travellers alike,” Maganzo told Independentxtra.
“We are also working to form partnerships for marketing with stakeholders and travel influencers and local businesses.
“We are also engaging with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to reach new audiences and create authentic, trustworthy content so as to reach a wideraudience.”
Meanwhile, Panyatsime Heritage and Culture Centre offers natural landscapes and a scenic environment with the potential to charm any visitor.
Despite the challenges highlighted, Panyatsime has become the must-visit recreational place which provides worthy alternatives for domestic and foreign tourists.
For learners, Panyatsime is a heritage and cultural centre that offers practical and real-life interventions for tackling the heritage-based curriculum, which is used in Zimbabwean schools.
The resident band, led by Masimba Matyatya, provides theoretical as well as practical snippets on traditional musical instruments, among them the mbira and drums, which learners find invaluable for the visual and performing arts segment of the syllabi.
Because of the natural forest it has nurtured and a variety of improvements, Panyatsime Heritage and Cultural Centre is the place to be when people want to taste serenity, away from the hustle and bustle of the city streets.