Great Zimbabwe World Heritage Site and sustainable development

Great Zimbabwe World Heritage Site serves as a valuable resource for sustainable development, particularly in cultural and social terms. The study reveals that the site promotes Shona traditions through community projects like the Shona Village and the Great Zimbabwe Nemanwa Craft Centre, generating revenue while fostering local culture. However, benefits such as employment creation are often temporary and unsustainable due to limited community participation. This challenges the common perception that cultural heritage is harder to sustain than natural heritage, offering a counterpoint by demonstrating its potential as an engine for sustainable development. The research employed questionnaires, personal interviews, and site visits to gather data, providing a nuanced understanding of the site's impact on local communities.

Macheka, M. T. (2016). Great Zimbabwe World Heritage Site and sustainable development. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, 6(3), 226–237. https://doi.org/10.1108/jchmsd-09-2015-0030