adminWorkers across most industries have come together to form unions to advocate for equal opportunities, rights and duties for all employees: young and old, men and women.
In most cases, the mission for such groupings is to improve the welfare, living standards and democratic participation of employees and to promote a fair and equitable society.
Closer to home we have Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) and Zimbabwe Teachers Union (ZTU). I mentioned these two because somehow they have a closer link to our arts.
What do we have as artistes?
We have a few that unfortunately years and years after they started operating are not doing enough for their particular fields. We still have the same problems of lack of resources, airplay and taxation. Why is this? I think mostly ita��s because ita��s more about individuals seeing an opportunity to make money than pushing for reforms in the industry which will in turn bring the necessary funds.
I will narrow it down to music and promotions. Many a times people who cry about inequitable airplay are accused of pulling the regional card and hence many are silenced by that.
Before Zimbabwe took the 75 percent avenue which birthed urban grooves among other genres, the countrya��s airwaves were victim to the world disease of being Americanised.
Do not get me wrong, ita��s not Americaa��s problem, ita��s just that international markets favour countries with large and well-developed broadcasting and production sectors, whose programmes can easily displace local programmes in countries with smaller, less developed sectors.
I remember how Craig David stole the world and how those who had Westlife played them with pride. Radio Three was a hit because they gave us just that. When the 75 percent call came, many were angry, they even called it the death of radio. But look at the results now. A battle was won, but the war is not over.
Ita��s not easy to get your music to radio, artistes in their respective regions still find it hard to perform in gigs happening in their own backyards. The war now is seemingly internal though and not against South Africa and USA.
Promoters come in from wherever with their own stage, own sound and own acts. What about local service providers; local artistes and local promoters. I think asking for a national association for now would be suicide as we face different challenges in the country. We need city by city associations which will feed into one big association which should have comprehensive national representation.
Local content rules should aim to promote pluralism. In Canada, for example, the Broadcasting Act provides that the broadcasting system a�?shall be effectively owned and controlled by Canadians,a�? contribute to a�?the maintenance and enhancement of national identity and cultural sovereignty,a�? and should:
(i) Serve to safeguard, enrich and strengthen the cultural, political, social and economic fabric of Canada,
(ii) Encourage the development of Canadian expression by providing a wide range of programming that reflects Canadian attitudes, opinions, ideas, values and artistic creativity, by displaying Canadian talent in entertainment programming and by offering information and analysis concerning Canada and other countries from a Canadian point of view,
(iii) Through its programming and the employment opportunities arising out of its operations, serve the needs and interests, and reflect the circumstances and aspirations, of Canadian men, women and children, including equal rights, the linguistic duality and multicultural and multiracial nature of its society
I believe for now we just need a cut and paste attitude on things that work. I have said before, I will say it again. The arts has serious potential in Zimbabwe, but we need to fix things. Let locals benefit from local initiatives. Let all enjoy national privileges. Until next week, be safe . . .
a�� @nkuenkala
Online Reporter