The curtain finally came down on a cultural competition that was being run by the Cultural Centre of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Zimbabwe when the competition winners were presented with their monetary prizes by Iran’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, H.E. Mr Abbas Navazani and the Deputy Director of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Mr Josiah Kusena in Harare yesterday.

The colorfully packed prize presentation was fully subscribed, as many people came to witness the winners walking away with their prizes.

In attendance were all the competitors numbering over Fifty, as well as artists and members of the media fraternity, including those from the country’s largest media group, Zimpapers as well as those from Zimbabwe Television News.

In his opening remarks before the presentation of the prizes, the Cultural Counsellor, Mr Hamid Bakhtiyar, said he was very much satisfied by the level of competitiveness displayed by all the entrants who participated in the competition.

The Cultural competition which had Three categories, namely the Essay, Art and Poetry categories, drew some quite inspiring works from the artists and writers ranging from university lecturers to prominent visual artists. All the written essays were of the highest and publishable quality.

The Competition also attracted Professor Kudzai Biri, a lecturer in the Department of Religion, Classics and Philosophy at the University of Zimbabwe as well as Mr Raphael Jamu, an internationally acclaimed visual artist. Both won first prizes.

Participants wrote and painted on Islamic Lifestyle, the Islamic Revolution and the Achievements of the Islamic Republic of Iran as well as on the History and civilization of Iran.

His Excellency the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr Abbas Navazani, in his remarks noted the excellent political, economic and cultural relations that exist between Zimbabwe and Iran.

He commended Mr Bakhtiyar, the Cultural Counsellor, for the good work that he was doing in growing the excellent cultural relations between Zimbabwe and Iran.