Matabeleland Producers Call For Equal Opportunities
By Sibongumusa Dhlodhlo - posted 29/01/06
Ndebele culture is cheap!!
That seems to be the insulting belief of the national broadcaster,
Zimbabwe Television (ZTV), as evidenced by their treatment of content and programmes from Matabeleland.
The history of Ndebele programming on ZTV has been marred by controversy and Matabeleland
producers note with anger that no two Ndebele dramas have run concurrently in any season.
The latest controversy pitted Ernest Posa Ndlovu of Isithembo and Susan Makore, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH) C.E.O. Ndlovu complained about the non-payment
for his product by ZBH. Makore, dismissed the complaint arguing that they had a contract with Isithembo to pay them after 26 episodes, a charge, which actor, producer and newspaper columnist, Bhekilizwe Ndlovu,
counters as being a lie.
In the 13-19 January 2006 issue of Umthunywa, Ndlovu writes strongly that there is not even a single actor who entered into an agreement with ZTV
that they will be paid after 26 episodes and dismisses it as a green lie. He points out that the drama, Isithembo, was initially an National Television (NTV) project, the television station that failed to take off
and the point at which ZTV entered into an agreement with the actors is a mystery.
He requests the pleasure to see the agreements.
For the people of Matabeleland
the issue is beyond a game and politics, but is that of systematic cultural annihilation by the national broadcaster.
Memory Kumbota, the producer of the soap, Amakorokoza, blamed most of the problems on centralization by ZBH.
“Montrose has always remained a sub-station thus those closer
to Pockets Hill have an unfair advantage,” said Kumbota.
This centralization has seen ZTV play more Shona productions than
any other language.
Montrose is a ZBH studio in Bulawayo,
which is under utilized and absolute.
Veteran playwright and producer, Cont Mhlanga, did not mince his
words when commenting on the problems. He pointed out that these problems started after 1987 leading to the decline in work
from this region and the rise in Shona content. He said, as Amakhosi, they once questioned this but it strained their relations
with the then ZTV management.
“There is deliberate content imbalance by ZTV,” Mhlanga
said.
He said the system worked through non-payment of actors, inexistence
of a budget for Matabeleland productions and the conspiracy that everything must first start in Mashonaland for it to be recognized,
citing the ill-fated case of the variety show, Friday Live at Amakhosi, which showcased
artists from Matabeleland.
“Producers from this end are continually frustrated to a
point of giving up,” he added.
Mhlanga said on Sinjalo,
they had to work on a zero budget using a single hand-held cam-coder for filming. The sit-com, as well as Stitsha never ran to their end.
He admits that Amakhosi are on television, “ just to keep
up appearances.”
“Power FM went on a 100% Shona content without looking for
Xhosa, Venda, Sotho or Kalanga rappers which shows how language management has been sacrificed,” That is how Mhlanga
illustrates the disdain of ZBH management.
As a way of solving these ills, Mhlanga suggested investment in
processes that boost production such as Amakhosi Performing Arts Academy (APAA). He also called for open debate on the burning
issues instead of sweeping them under the carpet.
“By failing to manage equal opportunities for minorities
in Zimbabwe, they are investing in a civil
war,” stressed Mhlanga.
ZTV is a national heritage and by sidelining other cultures, ZBH
producers are committing treason and frustrate the march towards a national culture. Matabeleland
producers will in the long run be left with no option but to turn to alternative means such as are offered by new technology
like DVD, video and the world wide web stations.
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Short Film Project -posted 29-01-06
ASPIRING scriptwriters in Bulawayo have once again been offered a chance to break into mainstream scriptwriting by
the Zimbabwe International Film Festival through its Short Film Project (SFP).
SFP is once again calling on all prospective screenwriters to submit their story outlines, which
must not exceed two typed pages for this year’ s selection and the deadline is the 10th of March 2006.
“Again while there is no one set theme or genre of film, the project is looking for contemporary,
modern day Zimbabwean stories, stories that record our lives today,” said SFP in a statement.
“This year the SFP
aims more, to make films, that are more artistically inspired. Over the years as I worked with young Zimbabwean filmmakers,
it has become obvious that we have stories to tell and that we know how to tell them well. Now we have to start advancing
the art of filmmaking by being more creative and daring with our camera skills, be experimental with our editing techniques
and try and be adept with the use of sound and music in our films. What we are
aiming for this year with our films is to cross over boundaries and challenge ourselves to be more visually innovative,’
said Nakai Matema, the SFP Producer.
The Zimbabwe International Film festival
is an annual festival that exhibits films from across the world. It is organized by the Zimbabwe International Film Festival
Trust. It came to Bulawayo for the first time in its 7th
year premiering at Amakhosi Theatre on the 27th of August 2004. In its debut year in Bulawayo, the films were shown at Amakhosi TSCC, Bulawayo National Art gallery and the Rainbow
City 4. However in the second year, the Rainbow City 4 dropped out and the Alliance Francaise came aboard.
Besides showcasing films the festival also
organizes workshops that include training in screen writing, acting for film, directing, filming (photography) and many aspects
of film making. It also has a project called the short film project that is aimed at aspiring film makers. This project showcases
work that would have been produced by young film makers under the guidance of seasoned film makers.
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Best Screenplay Awards Presented
By Sibongumusa Dhlodhlo and Nomvuyo Mdluli- posted 06-03-06
THE Amakhosi Performing Arts Academy (APAA)
Screenplay Fair ’06 came to an end on Saturday 18 February 2006 with the Best Screenplay Award Ceremony held at the
Township Square Cultural Centre (TSCC).
The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ),
Bulawayo region Provincial Administrator, Mr. Nicholas Moyo
and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH) Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Susan Makore, were the twin Guests Of Honour at
the ceremony.
An IsiNdebele screenplay, Maweni
by Babuse Moyo (26) scooped the first prize of Z$20
000 000, 00 (20 million dollars) for its writer and a pledge to underwrite its production costs. The two prizes were sponsored
by Jet Around Tours, a tourist company based in the Victoria Falls
