Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart Says Matobo Women designers Will Design the Mayoral Gown

21 January 2025

By Pronellah Lunga

The Mayor of Bulawayo has announced that Matobo women artists will design his gown, as the council aims to replace the traditional mayoral gown, which he describes as a “colonial relic.”

Speaking at the official opening ceremony of the Matobo Goes Fashion exhibition on Friday meant to showcase the designs of Matobo women in art, the Mayor emphasized that the new gown will be ready by April.

He noted that collaborating with Matobo fashion designers will ensure it reflects the region’s rich cultural heritage and Zimbabwean traditions.

“The Bulawayo City Council agreed unanimously that we are going to change the Mayoral Gown. We are going to change this colonial relic and Miss Nkanyezi Malunga has been contracted by us to redesign the Mayoral gown using the fashion designs of the Matobo designers.

“We are currently working towards finalizing this project. The local authority has approved a resolution to make it happen, and we anticipate that the Gown will be ready by April. It will be 100% Zimbabwean, crafted entirely from locally sourced fabrics,” stated Senator Coltart.

He also expressed his hope that the introduction of the new gown will demonstrate the city’s support for Matobo artists.

This initiative seeks to modernize the city and promote inclusivity, ensuring that the gown resonates with Bulawayo’s vision, culture, and heritage as they move forward.