Staff Writer
Zimbabwe’s flagship talent search competition, Dreamstar Zimbabwe, is set to mark its 10th anniversary with a grand finale that organisers say reflects the country’s growing emphasis on youth empowerment, inclusivity and cultural development.
The competition, which completed its quarter-final and semi-final rounds on May 23, has selected 10 finalists from more than 500 contestants drawn from all of Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces. The finalists will compete in the grand finale scheduled for August 15 at Harare’s 7 Arts Theatre.
Founded in 2015, Dreamstar Zimbabwe is co-organised by the China-Zimbabwe Exchange Centre and Jacaranda Culture and Media Corporation. Over the past decade, the competition has evolved into one of the country’s most recognisable arts platforms, helping to launch the careers of emerging performers while broadening access to opportunities for young people.
This year’s finalists include a participant from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) rehabilitation programme, in a move organisers say reflects the competition’s commitment to inclusivity and social transformation.
The initiative also dovetails with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which prioritises human capital development, youth empowerment and social cohesion. By incorporating talent from correctional facilities, the programme mirrors wider government efforts aimed at rehabilitation and reintegration through creative industries.
Speaking in an interview, China-Zimbabwe Exchange Centre and Jacaranda Culture and Media Corporation Managing Director Walter Chanaka said Dreamstar Zimbabwe had grown beyond being simply a talent competition.
“This is an inclusive platform helping many talented youths who lack funding. It fights anti-drug abuse by giving our young people purpose and a positive outlet for their energy,” Chanaka said. “We are doing our part for the development of the youth and the arts of Zimbabwe.”
Organisers said the programme would also expand its developmental focus through partnerships with financial institutions to offer contestants short courses in financial literacy and digital marketing.
In addition, selected participants will receive full scholarships to study artistry in China, continuing Dreamstar’s cultural exchange programme between Zimbabwe and China.
Chanaka said this year’s finale would introduce a new creative production format to commemorate the competition’s milestone anniversary.
“I believe in my young team to come up with new, creative ways of presenting this milestone celebration. This will be different from all the finales we have done before,” he stated.
Zimbabwe’s creative sector has increasingly been recognised as a potential contributor to economic growth and the country’s Vision 2030 agenda, with public and private institutions investing more resources into arts and youth-focused initiatives.
Against that backdrop, Dreamstar Zimbabwe’s 10th season is being positioned as both an entertainment platform and a vehicle for national development, promoting talent identification, cultural exchange and social inclusion.