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Bhekumuzi Ncube, Sunday Life Reporter
LAUNCHED in Bulawayo last week, the film Londisizwe raises awareness against child marriages as well as well as promoting the emancipation, empowerment and equality for the girl child.
The director of the Londisizwe Movement, Kelly Ndlovu, said the world was supposed to know that child marriages are strictly forbidden as they reflect a sick culture that abuses women.
“Child marriage is a burning issue that people often overlook in Zimbabwe, as Londisizwe we were inspired to come up with such a storyline which would trigger awareness and promote social change against child marriage. We have received numerous compliments and positive criticism on our projects and that is what keeps us moving. We intend to conduct community screenings, community dialogues and engage in many activities that will help to raise awareness of social problems and drive change in our communities,” she said.
The film talks about a young girl by the name Nomvula (15 years) who loses her mother. She and her step father (Qamulandaba) are evicted from a family. Qamulandaba depends on his friends for handouts for his and Nomvula’s survival until one fateful day when he gives Nomvula to his friend, Dingani as a way of paying a debt.
Nomvula is forced into a marriage to a man thrice her age. In this marriage she experiences emotional abuse until she runs away from Dingane. The film is the extraordinary work of the Londisizwe Movement which is a social initiative founded by five young people from Bulawayo namely Lungile Ndlovu, Adrian Phiri, Ntando Ndlovu, Dumisani Manyathela and Kelly Ndlovu.
“We use our vast understanding of social media to reach out to other young people and get them interested in joining our cause. It is our belief that a visual portrayal of issues such as child marriages and abuse is a better means for educating the people and making them understand the ramifications of such actions.
“Our core objective is to raise awareness of social problems and drive change in our communities. We produce edutainment short films that visually capture and tell our stories in a manner that will lead to action by our fellow youths,” she added.
The launch of the film coincided with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence campaign.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter