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NewsDay

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Mixed feelings over Presidential Dogz

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THE contentious film, Presidential Dogz, produced by Silvanos Mudzvova has attracted mixed reactions before its release, with fears of a backlash from President Robert Mugabe’s loyalists

THE contentious film, Presidential Dogz, produced by Silvanos Mudzvova has attracted mixed reactions before its release, with fears of a backlash from President Robert Mugabe’s loyalists.

BY WINSTONE ANTONIO

The film, about homosexuality, appears targeted at Mugabe, whose disdain for gays is not a secret and whose well-known tirade, “worse than pigs and dogs”, has become the pay-off line for anti-gay campaigners.

The title of the one and a half hour long film is taken from Mugabe’s quote.

Mudzvova, however, is not moved by the potential backlash and seems to have received support and a fair share of criticism from people within and out of Zimbabwe.

NewsDay reader, Speaklow Pakaipa said Mudzvova’s stance was synonymous with someone seeking to settle in the United States.

“I for one do not care what this guy is trying to do, but advocating for gays and lesbians is wrong, period,” he wrote on the paper’s website.

“If he is gay and feels that he needs freedom to engage in that disgusting act, he should relocate and join his . . . friends in the United States of America and other nations that support that. Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed because of homosexuals so please leave Zimbabwe out of this.”

Another reader identified as Wellie said gays and lesbians should never be allowed to air their views in public.

“Such people should never be given any platform. I wonder, does this so-called person have any kids himself? On the dog aspects, the President is right, let him do it in the United Kingdom, where there are dogs, here we have people created in the image of God with African morals,” he wrote.

Others said Mudzvova was after donor money, calling for the banning of the film in Zimbabweviewers.

Another reader, who identified himself as Frank, however, defended Mudzvova, saying he was “a voice of reason”.

“Beautiful way forward and thank you for being a voice, we need more like you. I’m here to support you in whatever way you see fit. Thank you for showing that we have voices of reason amongst us,” wrote Frank.

Mudzvova has vowed to use theatre to fight for human rights, among which he lists sexual orientation as one.

In a recent interview with NewsDay, Mudzvova said theatre for him was a way of “expressing the will of the people without fear”.

“I have been arrested on several occasions, but to be honest, detention actually strengthens me in my mission to stand up for human rights and respect for the rule of law in Zimbabwe. Theatre is my passion and I will never fear anything,” he said.