Panyatsime Heritage and Culture Centre in Chitungwiza's Rockview suburb has emerged as a key player in supporting Zimbabwe’s heritage-based education thrust by offering practical learning spaces that blend formal schooling with indigenous knowledge systems.
The centre is complementing the new curriculum by providing hands-on platforms for the teaching of history, culture, language, science and technology, all grounded in local heritage and lived community experiences.
Speaking to journalists during a media tour of the facility, Panyatsime Heritage and Culture Centre founder and chief executive officer Rumbidzai Dihwa said the institution was designed to make learning relevant, practical and identity-driven.
The media tour was held concurrently with Global Community Engagement Day, an annual initiative that encourages organisations, individuals and businesses to strengthen partnerships and actively contribute to community development.
“Our culture centre is more than just a destination for entertainment; it is a vital resource for school pupils and the public to explore and learn about cultural and heritage issues,” said Dihwa.
“We are dedicated to restoring African and Zimbabwean identity while raising cultural awareness among current and future generations.
“Community engagement is at the heart of our mission.
“We actively collaborate with local organisations, cultural groups and international partners to ensure that our centre remains inclusive, accessible and responsive to the needs of all visitors.”
She said Panyatsime's vision was to ensure that learners do not only read about heritage in textbooks, but experience it in real life. Dihwa added that Panyatsime was a living classroom where culture, innovation and education intersect.
She said the centre also serves as a living archive of indigenous traditions, values, artefacts and oral history, helping young people reconnect with their roots while building confidence in their cultural identity.
Dihwa added that at a time when globalisation threatens to erode cultures, heritage education becomes a powerful tool for restoring national pride and self-worth among learners.
Beyond cultural preservation, the centre is equipping 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.
“By teaching practical skills, we are preparing learners to contribute meaningfully to their communities.”
She added that elders, cultural practitioners and local experts play a central role at the centre, bridging the gap between formal education and community wisdom through storytelling, demonstrations and mentorship.
The centre also doubles as a cultural tourism hub, attracting visitors and creating income-generating opportunities for surrounding communities while showcasing Zimbabwe’s rich and diverse heritage.
More than 90 learning institutions visited Panyatsime Heritage and Culture Centre in 2025 as part of their educational tours, according to the centre's heritage officer Ashley Lilyosa Maganzo.
She said the centre continues to position itself as a model for curriculum integration, community participation and heritage-driven development in the country, particularly for schools in urban areas.
Meanwhile, Panyatsime Heritage and Culture Centre offers natural landscapes and a scenic environment.
The indigenous forest holds about 45 different indigenous trees with medicinal, nutritional and cultural values.