Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainmet Hub
FOUR years after Cont Mhlanga’s death, the veteran playwright has continued to “rule the roost” from his grave. Everything he touched has turned to gold.
Today, his play, The Members, returns at Theatre in the Park, nestled in the heart of Harare Gardens. The production runs from today until June 13.
Theatre lovers in Harare will also have another opportunity to watch it from June 17 to 20. Written by the late Mhlanga, the play was directed by theatre guru Daves Guzha. It features a star-studded cast including Eunice Tava, Zenzo Nyathi, Memory Kumbota, and Guzha.
The set design was done by Marvin Mabikwa, while Yeukai Mhandu handled the wardrobe. Speaking ahead of today’s event, Guzha hailed Mhlanga for his creative edge as he continues to call the shots from his grave.
“The Members” is a stage play written by Cont Mhlanga. This particular stage play was performed at the first HIFA in 1999.
“So, 27 years later, we have decided to reprise it because it still remains extremely relevant to everything else that is actually happening.
“In brief, the whole play is about a Member of Parliament called Mujaji, whom I play as Daves Guzha — so I play that particular character.
“Memory Kumbota plays the young MP in Koseshle. There is also a private secretary called Gloria, and there is an old man from Bomanzi,” Guzha told Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub.
“The whole thing is about the community of Bomanzi looking for their MP to help them get water because there is a real shortage of water. It’s like trying to have a Zambezi water project — you know, that kind of thing.
“And then that particular community, the chairman of which is the old man in Komazana, keeps on coming to see the MP. However, the MP for eight months is not granted an audience because he keeps on saying that he is busy and so forth — until such a time that the community then sources its own resources and comes up with its own water project. That then prompts the MP to suddenly want to embed himself into the success story of the community. “So he keeps on saying, you know, “I think that I need to be part of this, you know. Government needs to be part of this.
“‘As your honourable MP, I’m supposed to have been informed so that I can come and officiate at the ceremony for the water issue and so forth, right?”
He added:
“And then one thing leads to the other. There are elections for Parliament, and the MP loses his position when people vote because they have very little confidence in him.
“Basically, the whole play addresses the issue of absent MPs from their constituencies —which is what we are all seized with, I think, at the moment. After voting, people find that their MPs hardly show up. They only show up again when it is time for another election.
“So that is what the play is about. The play is one of Mhlanga’s masterpieces.”
The play features a stellar cast made up of Kumbota, a celebrated director in his own right who has also been an actor and has won several NAMA Awards. Zenzo Nyanti, a multi-award winner, is an actor who has been in the film and theatre industry for over two decades. Tava is a multi-award-winning actress as well who has also directed several plays.
Precisely, the play is a way of paying homage to the late Cont, according to Guzha.
