via Govt challenges creative industry | The Herald October 31, 2013 by Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
SECRETARY for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba yesterday challenged the creative industry to produce enough content to meet the requirement for 75 percent local content in broadcasting.
He said Government would now enforce the 75 percent local content rigorously.
Speaking at the premiere of the film “Sabhuku Vharazipi 2” at Ster Kinekor at Eastgate Mall in Harare, Mr Charamba said with the pending digitalisation, Zimbabwe would soon have more television channels, which means the blossoming of the creative industry.
“I want to say to the creative industry this is your time,” he said.
“The Government is going to enforce the 75 percent local content with vigor yebenzi yokusvikorova amai kana vanongedzwa uroyi.
“Of course, there are issues to do with institutional, post production, cameras and editing suites, but Government is looking at ways of ensuring that the equipment is available for duty free or hire at concessionary rates.
“At the moment, we are struggling to produce for just two channels and yet on one ZTV frequency there will be 21 channels after going digital. When you multiply that by two you get 42 channels, now imagine how many hours of screening when you screen for 24 hours.”
Referring to the recently held Lion Lager Summer Beer Festival, Mr Charamba said it was disheartening to note that Zimbabwean artistes were paid less compared to foreign acts who put up mediocre performances.
Quoting from renowned Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, Mr Charamba said Zimbabweans should “not be consumers, but producers of the cultural dish”.
He slammed piracy, saying the Government would continuously nudge scientists to come up with ways of encrypting videos.
Mr Wellington Chindara the producer of Sabhuku Vharazipi 2 said the film was shot on a shoe-string budget.
“It was really tough to come up with the film because the money we got from the Culture Fund covered only the production costs,” he said.
“We also didn’t have a sponsorship or support from our families because at the time we were not making money.”
The hilarious comedy revolves around the character “Sabhuku Vharazipi”, a corrupt and selfish village head who manipulates the distribution of food and other inputs in his area in an attempt to get what he wants, including women.
The play is a socio-political commentary touching on several issues like corruption, politics of the stomach and life in the village.
Cast members who include David Mubayiwa, Kumbirai Chikonye, Denis Rutsotso and Veronica Suspence attended the premiere.
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