adminLovemore Meya Arts Correspondent
At a time when local movie producers were beginning to utilise local cinemas to market their productions, the industry has been dealt a huge blow.
The blow comes following the closure of the once famous Rainbow Cinemas in the city centre in Harare that shut doors amid revelations of failure to pay utility bills, rentals and salaries amounting to more than US$90 000.
The cinemas operated as City Cinemas under Independent Pictures Private Limited.
City Cinemas board chairman, Garikayi Nemu said the organisation went through hard times since 2011 until late last year when the burden became unbearable.
Nemu said lack of technological advancement at the company gave the cinemas one of the final blows.
“We could not handle both internal and external pressure and business started plummeting with technological advancement taking toll.
Piracy also dealt us a blow with people thronging places where 3D films were shown,” lamented Nemu.
Nemu alleged that a number of employees were sent packing when they violated the company’s rules after going for months without getting paid.
“Some of them went on a stealing spree in the cash offices while others disturbed couples in the auditorium taking photos and soliciting for bribes, threatening to blackmail them,” he said.
Owners of the building First Mutual life are demanding US$70 000 (US$ 60 000 for outstanding utility bills and US$10 000 for rentals) for the cinemas to resume operations. City Cinemas owes its employees about US$20 000 in unpaid salaries.
First Mutual Life received a go ahead to cancel a lease agreement they entered with City Cinemas from the High Court under case number HC 7187/12 two years ago.
Many attempts to solve the issue over the last two years failed to yield positive results until First Mutual Life issued City Cinemas with a 48-hour eviction order late last year.
Online Reporter