CANADIAN-based Zimbabwean film maker Moses Matanda who is the director of the forthcoming feature film titled Chinhoyi 7 has said the shooting of the film is now complete.

The two-hour-long film chronicles the famous battle of Chinhoyi that ignited the Second Chimurenga in 1966.

It features both international and local actors, among them Julian Shaw from Britain and Cynthia Stone from Canada, gospel singer Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave as Sarudzai, a housemaid working at a Rhodesian army general’s house, poet Albert Nyathi as the late uMdala Wethu Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo and Edmore Sandiforo, popularly known as Chabvonga in the television drama series, Tiriparwendo.

Speaking to NewsDay, Matanda said he was happy with the progress of the project.

“After spending two months of shooting we are now editing the film and if everything goes according to plan will be releasing the movie on the market in February next year,” Matanda said.

“With this film we seek to correct the misconceptions about the country’s liberation struggle by telling the story from a Zimbabwean angle as we want to market the nation as a safe tourist destination and correct wrong images that have been portrayed by the Western media.”

Keep Reading

Film producer Tawanda Sarireni hailed the combination of international cast and local actors.

“The combination of local and foreign actors has facilitated the portrayal of the movie’s theme. The film is going to be a world-class project that will educate people about the importance of freedom which led to our independence,” Sarireni said.

“The film was shot using latest technology at different sites of the country to portray different events of the war that include Domboshava, Victoria Falls, Mutarazi Falls and other tourist destinations.”