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Auxilia Katongomara Entertainment Correspondent
NATIONAL Arts Council of Zimbabwe boss Elvas Mari has blasted local musicians who are conferred ambassadorial titles by corporates in the country without proper documentation and benefits. Addressing arts stakeholders and promoters at a stakeholders meeting in the city on Tuesday, the arts administrator, said it was saddening that the majority of leading artistes in the country “just wake up” ambassadors of certain brands, without knowing what it entails.
“Every morning you wake up and read from newspapers that so and so is now ambassador of this….People must not come to the sector to make fun of the artiste, there must be something for him at the end of the day
“Before one is made ambassador they must sit down with the organisation and sign a contract and get an office where they would be working from not this cheap ambassadorial process that artistes go through,” fumed Mare.
He said the appointments had led to collapse of most musical bands in the country.
“Artistes are just used by these organisations, they are just paraded at their events and that’s all.
“They want to reap where they did not sow and now bands are breaking up because some of the members think there is financial benefit after all,” he said.
Mari said organisations have to invest in the artiste before conferring them with the titles.
“Artistes come a long way, they have to eat and fend for their families and serious organisations must make investments in the sector or even in the artiste before they make him ambassador.
“As the arts council, we think, it is not fair for the artistes because they are being used and we think something must be done to correct this situation,” he said.
Seasoned musicians have of late been made ambassadors by many organisations.
Sungura ace, Alick Macheso was appointed the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society humanitarian ambassador.
His role would be helping in humanitarian work and writing songs for the society.
In return, his band gets free medical cover from Iranian Red Crescent.
Superstar Oliver Mtukudzi is the Unicef Goodwill Southern Africa Ambassador.
His role focuses on young people’s development and HIV and AIDS prevention.
High riding dendera prodigy Sulumani Chimbetu was recently endorsed as the brand ambassador for Greencard Medical Aid Society. Greencard has, however, hit the hard times.
Other ambassadors are football legends Peter Ndlovu Rahman Gumbo and musicians Sandra Ndebele and Jeys Marabini who were all appointed Traffic Safety Ambassadors.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo