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Harare Bureau
Government will enforce the 75 percent local content policy to promote local artists as music is an industry with potential to generate employment, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo said yesterday. In an interview after touring the Star FM Studios and Natprint premises in Harare yesterday, Minister Moyo underscored the need to support local musicians to improve on the quality of their music in line with international standards.
Prof Moyo, who was accompanied by his deputy Cde Supa Mandiwanzira, Permanent Secretary Mr George Charamba and Zimpapers board members said:
“The young people who got this opportunity out of the 75 percent local content have grabbed the opportunity with their hearts, souls and mind and demonstrated that they can do it. They are as creative as their peers anywhere else.”
He said the challenge was now on Government to help the musicians produce quality music.
“For us to move to the next stage especially in the lucrative markets like South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria they (musicians) need the kind of equipment similar to what is used by their peers. We now have to invest in quality equipment in terms of recording. This is happening at a time when we have understood that the CD as a format for mass production is almost extinct and there is a digital market. We need to expose our young musicians to the new digital markets so that they can benefit,” Prof Moyo said.
He added: “We now know that live performances are a major source of income for the industry. For performance to generate income we need not just the public address system but a carefully thought out identified sound system for live performances so that we change the quality for the better.”
Prof Moyo stressed the need to help local musicians acquire new skills around sound, lighting and stage design.“We really want our young people to showcase their talent. We want their live shows to be no different to those across the Limpopo (South Africa) or Nigeria. This is a commitment we have made. We want to make sure that we are able to facilitate in the process. There is a lot of interest on Zimbabwe and in the iconic leadership of President Mugabe. We now have the opportunity to showcase these young Mugabes to the world,” he said.
Prof Moyo spoke of turning such artists such as Sniper Storm and Winky D into the “P Squares” and other internationally acclaimed musicians.
During his tour of Star FM, Prof Moyo and Cde Mandiwanzira briefly went live on air at 15.15hrs.
He said he was a listener of the station with the news being his favourite.
Cde Mandiwanzira said he liked listening to the breakfast show adding that the ministry was very proud of Zimpapers as a group.
“We are very proud as a ministry to have under the ministry an institution like Zimpapers who are the owners of Star FM. It is world class,” he said.
Cde Mandiwanzira also threw his weight behind the 75 percent local content policy.
Prof Moyo also acknowledged the positive developments at Zimpapers describing the Star FM studios as “amazing”.
When Government introduced the 75 percent local content about a decade ago, Prof Moyo and the Ministry of Information faced criticism from some quarters but the policy gave birth to creative local artists whose music is now greatly appreciated.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu