No Hifa in 2019

The Harare International Festival of the Arts will not take place in 2019, organisers have confirmed.

In a brief statement they said:

HIFA confirms the 2019 edition will sadly not take place. Zimbabwe is dealing with many important issues, both social & economic. In this context, HIFA cannot responsibly commit to presenting a feasible & viable event of the same quality & impact that HIFA is known for this year.

HIFA confirms the 2019 edition will sadly not take place. Zimbabwe is dealing with many important issues, both social & economic. In this context, HIFA cannot responsibly commit to presenting a feasible & viable event of the same quality & impact that HIFA is known for this year. pic.twitter.com/7IIvNg12OI
— HIFA (@hifa_Official) February 15, 2019

The festival as forced to side-step another edition in 2016 and replace it with a series of events. There has been no such replacement this year, perhaps an indication of the dire state of the economy.

The move will come as a big blow to the fanfare around Zimbabwe as a tourism destination as one of its marquee events has had to succumb to a failing economy.

We’re sad, really.