Online Reporter
Liberty Dube
Entertainment Correspondent
THE National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ), in partnership with the Lotteries and Gaming Board, has turned to the creative sector in a fresh campaign to promote responsible gambling.
The two institutions have launched the Responsible Gambling Skit Challenge, inviting content creators and skit makers to use humour and creativity to raise awareness on the dangers of irresponsible betting and the importance of self-control.
Under the initiative, creators are challenged to produce short videos lasting between one and two minutes that highlight responsible gambling.
The campaign comes as authorities intensify efforts to address the misuse of household income on betting and other forms of gambling.
In a joint statement, NACZ and the Lotteries and Gaming Board, urged creatives to communicate the message in an engaging and relatable manner.
“We are calling creative skit makers to showcase your talent, while promoting a crucial message. create a one to two-minute skit highlighting the importance of gambling responsibly,” the organisations said.
To enter, participants must post their skit on Facebook, tag NACZ and the Lotteries and Gaming Board, and use the hashtag #ResponsibleGambling2026.
The competition closes on August 31, with the skit recording the highest views and engagement winning US$1 000.
The initiative offers Zimbabwe’s growing community of digital creators an opportunity to combine entertainment with public education.
With short-form videos increasingly popular, particularly among young people, organisers believe creative storytelling can resonate more effectively than conventional awareness campaigns.
Rather than relying solely on formal messaging, the challenge gives artists freedom to use comedy, drama and satire to demonstrate the consequences of gambling beyond one’s means.
The campaign builds on ongoing outreach by the Lotteries and Gaming Board.
In April, a team from the regulator, led by acting compliance manager, Misheck Chingozha, visited gambling outlets in Mutare and Marondera.
The outreach was prompted by concerns that money intended for rent, school fees and funeral expenses was being diverted to gambling, creating financial pressure for individuals and families.
During the visits, Chingozha emphasised that gambling should be viewed as entertainment rather than a means of earning a living or solving financial problems, warning that undisciplined gambling can quickly become destructive, with consequences extending beyond the gambler to families and communities.
The regulator’s approach centres on encouraging punters to set limits, understand the risks and avoid staking money needed for basic necessities.
The partnership with NACZ brings the arts into that broader conversation.
For years, Zimbabwean creatives have tackled social issues through music, theatre, comedy and visual storytelling. The challenge gives skit makers a platform to deploy those tools on an issue increasingly affecting households, while encouraging them to use their influence to promote positive social behaviour.
With US$1 000 at stake, competition is expected to be intense.
However, the organisers’ ultimate goal extends beyond the contest.
By embedding responsible gambling messages in entertaining, shareable content, NACZ and the Lotteries and Gaming Board hope to reach a wider audience and reinforce that gambling should be approached with caution and moderation.
