Nama’s shortcomings exposed

a farce after it emerged that the drama “Hona Mwana Wako” that won the Outstanding Screen Production for Television Drama was never screened on ZBC-TV’s two television channels!
This means that the drama did not only win by default ahead of work that was produced during the period between December 1 2009 and November 30, 2010 as stipulated by Nama requirements, it also won to the detriment of dramas that were broadcast, and still are, appearing on ZBC-TV’s two channels.
The anomaly recently came to light after a concerned observer (name supplied) phoned The Herald newsroom inquiring how the drama was nominated for the Outstanding Screen Production Television Drama yet viewers were not even aware that there was a drama by that name.
“That drama (Hona Mwana Wako) was never transmitted on ZBC-TV, either Channel 1 or Channel 2, but it was nominated and eventually won in that category.
“What criteria did the adjudicators use to judge it? Also, where did they get the drama? If it’s ZBC-TV, then the organisers of Nama, whom I understand is the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, should verify with ZBC-TV to confirm whether the drama was indeed programmed.
“From my understanding, it is said that the drama was submitted to ZBC-TV but turned down due to poor quality,’ said the source.
Contacted for comment, ZBC spokesperson Sivukile Simango confirmed that “Hona Mwana Wako” was never aired on ZBC-TV.
“I can confirm that it was never transmitted on ZBC-TV. I am being told that the producer of that drama took the DVD to Nama for adjudication. Get me right, I am not speaking on behalf Nama, but on our side I can confirm that ‘Hona Mwana Wako’ never appeared on ZBC-TV,” said Simango.
Elvas Mari, the director of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, referred all questions to the adjudicators.
“I think the adjudicators are in a better position to answer that, as you know I was not part of the adjudication.
“However, as you know, we always announce the criteria for adjudication and if you want I can you the criteria via email,” said Mari.