Nkulumane-based Victory-Siyanqoba Multi-Style Arts International group has produced a new play that urges youths to register to vote entitled Time Up.
Victory-Siyanqoba director Desire Moyo said his group compiled the play to urge “as many youths as possible to take part in voting”.
“We are saying through the play that time is ripe for the youths to take to their feet when it comes to voter registration. They should make their presence felt,” Moyo said in an interview with NewsDay.
“We are also saying time has come for politicians to implement the outstanding issues in the global political agreement.”
President Robert Mugabe is on record saying elections should be held by March next year at the latest so as to bring the two- year old inclusive government to an end.
Victory-Siyanqoba is not new to crafting hard-hitting and controversial plays. Last year their piece, Bread and Roses — a play on political violence — caused a stir in theatre circles.
Through Time Up, youths are also urged “not to be used to commit politically motivated crimes during elections”.
In the play, a father known as Madlela loses hope in the country’s electoral system as he feels that the results were always “doctored” and did not reflect the wishes of the majority.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
He even refuses to give his particulars to his sons who intend to register to vote.
He is finally convinced by a relative that he should “give youngsters a chance to determine their future through the ballot box”.
Moyo said the play also calls upon those young people who lost their parents during the Gukurahundi massacres to approach organisations such as Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights who would help them get documents that would allow them to vote.
“Some young people that lost their parents when they were still toddlers during Gukurahundi still do not have vital documents such as birth certificates and national identity cards,” he said.
The play premiered at Nkulumane Hall on Friday last week at a Human Rights Festival hosted by the National Youth Development Trust held under the theme: “Inculcating a Culture of Proactive Youth Participation”.
Moyo said it would soon be staged in other venues around Bulawayo in the coming weeks.
