ARCHIVE 100      
       
10.01.03      
RBO's "ART ON THE ROCKS"-Project
in Zimbabwe No More
RBO's "ART ON THE ROCKS"-Projekt
in Simbabwe zerstört
 
Radio Bridge Overseas regrets to inform that all buildings of its project "ART ON THE ROCKS" at the foot of Domboshava Hill in the outskirts of Zimbabwe's capital Harare have been destroyed. This is the result of an arson attack by unidentified so-called "war veterans" who in early October 2002 occupied the project's huts and an adjacent shop, turning the land in a "no-go-area". Reportedly, on 29. December, 2002, fighting between different fractions of the so-called "war veterans" in the area resulted in the destruction of the buildings. The project had already been halted earlier on due to repeated unlawful interference of local parties who, time and again, tried to hijack the land which was leased to the initiators of Rado Bridge Overseas by the respective rural council for a project development as outlined below.
 
Radio Brücke Übersee bedauert mitteilen zu müssen, daß alle bisher errichteten Gebäude seines Projekts "ART ON THE ROCKS" am Fuße des Domboshava-Berges vor den Toren der simbabweschen Hauptstadt Harare zerstört worden sind. Dies ist das Ergebnis einer Brandstiftung durch nicht identifizierte sogenannte "Kriegs-Veteranen", die Anfang Oktober 2002 die Hütten des Projekts und einen Laden nahebei besetzten und dabei die Gegend für Besucher unzugänglich machten. Am 29. Dezember 2002 soll es zu Streitigkeiten zwischen unterschiedlichen Fraktionen der sogenannten "Kriegs-Veteranen" gekommen sein, die zur Zerstörung der Gebäude führten. Arbeiten an dem Projekt waren zuvor schon eingestellt worden, nachdem unterschiedliche lokale Parteien immer wieder illegal versucht hatten, das Land für eigene Interessen zu nutzen. Es war vom zuständigen Landkreis den Initiatoren von Radio Brücke Übersee für die unten beschriebene Projektentwicklung verpachtet worden.
 
 
  BRIDGE BETWEEN
SOUTH & NORTH
 
It was intended to move Headquarters of RBO with its internship program to "ART ON THE ROCKS", the Cultural Centre already under construction, with limited funds of RBO, at the foot of Domboshava Hill, some 30 km north of Harare. This centre would have allowed a more permanent interaction of Southern and Northern participants who were supposed to live together at the site, working on audio program material delivered from Africa, Latin America and Asia.
 
  The Domboshava Cave, located 32 km north of Harare provides a rock art site in the middle of an impressive scenery of granite hills which attracts almost every tourist visiting or passing through the capital of Zimbabwe. Having seen the rock paintings of ancient times, they certainly would like to learn more about history and culture of those people whose villages and fields they can see far away.
Unfortunately, the rock-paintings were vandalised by unidentified local people already some years ago.
     
ART ON THE ROCKS, the cultural centre under construction on 1,75 ha of leased communal land in Domboshava, was a project of the initiators of RADIO BRIDGE OVERSEAS and its intention was not only to provide the future base for its operations, but above all to promote African culture and an overdue interaction with other cultures worldwide.  
     
  ART ON THE ROCKS and RADIO BRIDGE OVERSEAS wanted to document regularly, through their media activities, ongoing events of African origin for a worldwide audience, for example as live-broadcast on "GLOBAL VILLAGE VOICES", RBO's emerging network for a program-exchange of community radio stations worldwide.
 
OBJECTIVES OF
ART ON THE ROCKS

To promote traditional and modern expressions of cultures locally, nationally and internationally, and to initiate interaction between them, for example throuh RBO's Training and Internship Programs.

To establish an attractive centre of cultural events and exhibitions at the foot of Domboshava Hill by erecting and operating in phases workshops, galleries, and selling stands for local art and handicraft, a restaurant, tourist and conference facilities and one open-air-theatre.

To develop this centre as a focal point of regular debate and exchange of ideas in the form of public performances of local, national and international artists, authors, musicians and other cultural and media workers.

To promote such activities by organising training, support and advice to interested individuals, groups and co-operatives in research, design, management, accounts, technical skills and administration.

To complement and co-operate with existing governmental or non-governmental organisations and institutions inside and outside Zimbabwe in order to achieve the above objectives.

A creche and sewing machines for a womens' club, initiated through ART ON THE ROCKS as communal service for the people of Domboshava: