THE intractable political situation in the country under the Zanu PF government’s leadership has deflated the population’s hopes and curtailed inspiration for many in the creative industries, Magamba Network’s creative director, Farai Samm Monro, has said.
BY PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI
In the Culture, Activism, New Media and Innovation Networks annual report for 2014 released late last month, Munro said they responded to the problem by pioneering projects that were used to open up space for free expression.
“In a country of inflated political egos and empty promises, hope and inspiration became goods in extremely short supply for the average Zimbabwean,” Monro said.
“At Magamba, we used 2014 as a year to pioneer creative projects to open up space for free expression and – even more importantly – to inspire and motivate young people to believe that they can be part of building a new Zimbabwe.”
He noted that 2014 was an “exhausting year” in which economic growth slowed down to 3% while de-industrialisation continued and the informal economy mushroomed.
“On the political front, Zanu PF became increasingly fractious, while the opposition imploded into divisive factions,” Monro said.
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He highlighted that one of their productions, Zambezi News, a satirical show,“went viral” and toured Swaziland, South Africa and Hollywood.
The same year saw the annual Shoko Festival growing bigger, as it hosted major international acts like Hip Hop Pantsula and Rodney P, as well as producing the Hub Awards that rewarded the country’s most cutting-edge new media projects.
“The Community Events Project continued to host some of the capital’s popular events, with the Bang Bang Comedy Club establishing itself as a major monthly comedy night with politically charged humour,” he said.
Monro said he was happy that they opened up space for free expression and inspired new voices “to speak truth to power”.
