adminYeukai Karengezeka Arts Correspondent
Controversial film “Kumasowee” premiered in Harare over the weekend in defiance of police warning against the move.
The film was inspired by the Budiriro incident when police officers and members of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe were severely beaten up by members of Johane Masowe eChishanu at their shrine.
The film which is part of the new television series “Kutapira” has a feature length of 80 minutes. The pre-launch only attended by journalists was meant to share their views before the release date.
The church constitutes of an ex-prisoner, aspiring boxer, commuter omnibus drivers, illegal vendors and drug peddlers all of whom seek salvation in the church headed by the notorious Madzibaba Isaiah.
It opens with Madzibaba Isaiah alongside his mistress Madzimai Spiwe at the shrine where they will be praying for a woman who wanted to reunite with her estranged husband.
Most women in the church had a soft spot for Madzibaba and his fourth wife never wanted him to be alone with other women.
Other scenes explore how the police have been involved in unscrupulous activities including soliciting for bribes from commuter omnibus operators and raiding vendors before they eat the raided food.
Last scene is when police and church members clash at the shrine and the officers get a thorough hiding.
Film producer Silvanos Chidzvova said they were in need of financial support to produce DVDs.
“We are looking for financial assistance to produce more copies of the film because our partners pulled out after the police got involved.
“When I was summoned at the Harare Central Police Station by the Law and Order Department they said they were not against the film but said the Vapostori saga was still a sensitive issue to them,” he said.
The series “Kutapira” has 13 episodes and features various topical societal issues that are portrayed in a lighter and comical way.
Online Reporter