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Joseph Madzimure, Senior Reporter
FILM makers have the responsibility to shape Zimbabwean and African narratives by truthfully packaging and disseminating information that positively reflects the image of the country and continent at large, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Service Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere has said.
Officiating at the third graduation ceremony of the Zimbabwe Film and Television School of Southern Africa (ZIFTESSA) in Harare yesterday, Dr Muswere urged the graduates to leverage their skills to correct misinformation about Zimbabwe and Africa.
He emphasised the vital role filmmakers play in shaping narratives that reflect the continent’s rich culture and diverse experiences.
“As these new graduates step into the industry, they have the potential to influence perceptions and contribute to a more accurate representation of their nation and continent,” said Dr Muswere.
The Minister also announced ongoing consultations for a new film policy to foster a sustainable ecosystem for film, sports, and culture in Zimbabwe.
This initiative aims to support the growing creative industry and provide resources for aspiring filmmakers.
Zimbabwe Film and Television School of Southern Africa is one of the key institutions that is going to transform the film industry in Zimbabwe under the Second Republic.
“The graduation ceremony is an important milestone as we journey towards an upper middle-income society by the year 2030.
“A combination and a fusion of cinematography, film, drama, the utilisation of new technology, visual reality to augment the reality, utilisation of artificial intelligence, and information science is very key in terms of storytelling.
“The major responsibility of the graduates that are graduating today is to be able to tell the true African story, to be able to tell the true Zimbabwean story,” said Dr Muswere.
He informed the graduates that they are graduating at a time when the internet has taken over the way people communicate, the way opinions are developed, and the way national consciousness is altered through filmmaking and production.
“You are graduating during a period where the Fourth Industrial revolution has totally transformed the way we develop stories, the way we collect data, the way we communicate that data, because in the Fourth Industrial revolution, broadband data is the new order. Your biggest challenge is to tell the correct story about what is taking place, what took place before,” Dr Muswere said.
The film school, operated by the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services in Harare, seeks to empower local filmmakers to authentically tell their stories.
Yesterday, 45 students graduated from the school, receiving diplomas in Film and Television Production.
Of the total 45 graduates, 12 were females.
Dr Muswere said during the land reform programme, the film industry did not play a leading role in portraying the correct perspective and giving factual details about what took place.
Online Reporter