adminLiberty Dube
ENTERTAINMENT venue owners, artistes and music promoters in Manicaland province have received with mixed feelings the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe’s public directive for them to desist from operating illegally and register their entities and activities.ies.
Most of them took a swipe at the council for prioritising money while ignoring their plight.
Various musicians and promoters who spoke to The Weekender Entertainment said paying registration fees to the council was a waste of time and resources because it “has not been considerate” and has been shunning their plight.
They said the council was a dead wood that was milking money from them yet nothing was being done to develop art, artists and artistes in the province.
Last week, the NACZ, through its Manicaland provincial manager, Jonah Muchayi, said he was “very worried” by the behaviour of several promoters and venue owners who were desisting from registering the entities and activities with the council.
He urged artistes to work with promoters who have valid promoters’ licence issued by the NACZ to avoid cancellation of shows.
“All artistes must sign a contract form before offering services. All promoters who engage artistes as well as entertainment activities should be cleared by National Arts Council. Arts and cultural groups, for instance, bands, theatre groups, traditional dance groups, individual artistes and promoters of dancehall should also register with us before operating,” he said.
Entertainment consultant Obey “Big Fish” Hove said: “NACZ is just there to benefit from us. They are not concerned about our welfare.
“It is quite unfortunate that they want our money without addressing our concerns. Most musicians are wallowing in poverty. They are not getting anything from music. They should play a role in improving our livelihoods.”
Pick and Save venue owner and promoter Isau Mupfumi said although it was a noble idea for promoters to register with the council, the whole process has not been serving any purpose.
Mupfumi was one of the few registered promoters last year.
“Whether you are registered or not, there is no difference. Most entertainment venues did not register, but they operated freely. Besides, what is the council doing with the fees? Is it developing artistes?
“The welfare of artistes has not changed. What are they doing to help them, yet they move around telling people to register? The NACZ is sleeping on duty and people tend to take advantage of that. They are not doing enough to follow up on defaulters. They should be tough on defaulters,” he said.
Outspoken and veteran musician, who boasts of over 23 albums but has nothing to his name, Hosiah Chipanga, said it appears NACZ were much worried about money and not artistes’ welfare.
“This reminds me of my yesteryear hit ‘Zvimwe zvinoda mutorwa’”, Chipanga said.
In the song Chipanga sings, “Kana mada mazai motodawo nehuku . . . (If you want eggs, then you must have hens).”
“They want money, but they don’t want us. What’s art without artistes? They are our parents, but they don’t care for us.
“We are hopeless, but they are not helping anything. Piracy has been a stubborn scourge affecting all of us but what are they doing to help us?” fumed Chipanga.
Social commentator Richard Chauke, said: “These venue owners, promoters and artistes use their own resources and NACZ wants to harvest where it never dropped a seed.
“Can it point a single artiste it developed? They should strive to be relevant than to be a burden to artistes. We want order in the arts industry but not for artistes to be dairy cows of NACZ.
“There are personal sacrifices and risks in this trade. They should not punish people for their talents and goodwill to develop the arts industry. Our cultural representatives have done so much for this country and they need support.”
Club Oasis proprietor Frank Mandala said it was always good to register and be on the right side of the law.
He, however, challenged the council to consider the welfare of artistes.
Online Reporter