The Sunday News
Mbongeni Msimanga Sunday Leisure Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Theatre Awards are in limbo as members of the awards committee are allegedly dilly-dallying on the dates amid revelations that the awards have been postponed indefinitely.There is already speculation that the awards may not be held.
Sources privy to the goings on told Sunday Leisure that all was not well with theatre in the country. They alleged that the current committee was chaotic as there was no proper planning of its activities after it assumed office last year.
“It is totally chaotic and no one knows what is going on within the committee that is supposed to provide the compass for theatre activities in the country. The current leadership is not doing enough to even plan for the awards. We have no idea what our chairperson is even planning and it seems decisions are being made without consulting committee members,” said a committee member.
The theatre industry has been dogged by problems that have seen one of the important arts genres commanding a less following in the country with further accusations of appointments of a board that were made without informing relevant stakeholders.
“The committee has not been made known to the public so far and no one knows the current status of theatre in Zimbabwe. We want people to know what is going on and it is practically impossible to hold awards without planning for the event,” said the source.
Zita national co-ordinator Mgcini Nyoni refuted the claims that they had shelved the awards, and said they were still deliberating with committee members on the awards that were scheduled for this month.
Although the committee that was appointed last year is not well known to the theatre public and stakeholders, Nyoni said they were yet to inform the public on the developments that were taking place.
“We have not yet shelved the awards and we are still deliberating on when we will hold the awards. We cancelled them for this month and we will have to sit down with the committee members and decide on when we will host them,” he said.
The much postponed awards are set to be sponsored by a non-governmental organisation, Africalid.
Nyoni said they were yet to deliberate on issues affecting theatre in Zimbabwe, with the awards being one of their priorities.
“We are going to be sponsored by Africalid in the upcoming awards. We are also working on implementing a five year strategic plan that will see us discuss the awards as well as a plan focusing on the future of the theatre industry in Zimbabwe,” said Nyoni.
Former committee chairperson for Zita Josh Nyapimbi said all was not rosy during his tenure as he also faced similar problems of lacking the requisite resources to improve theatre production and see to it that the awards were held successfully.
He, however, urged patience and expressed optimism on the current appointed board acknowledging their efforts in attempting to seek the aid of corporate sponsors.
“I generally faced a similar problem when I was the board chairperson. The idea of awards was carried forward to the incumbent board after we failed to host them during our tenure because of lack of resources. I, however, have optimism on the current board as they are engaging sponsors who will fund the awards,” he said.
Committee chairperson Daniel Maposa could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone was out of reach.
His deputy, Elizabeth Muchemwa declined to comment.
The committee is composed of committee members, Leeroy Gono, Ephraim Vhutuza, Michael Banda, Aubrey Kamba and Sheila Bengula.
