FOR the Sakutukwa Theatre group, it’s just but a daily routine, maybe just a way of passing time while doing what they love best. But for the society it’s not only entertainment but valuable education.
Day by day, hour by hour, the theatre group explores the rural communities of Murewa with the aim of educating the rural population on HIV and AIDS awareness through theatre, a small but worthy gesture, one that even call to mind the words of Robert F Kennedy who once said, ‘‘The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better.”
The heavy dark clouds hover around Sakutukwa Village, near Dapandove Primary School, on this afternoon.
The rains are threatening, the fields are waiting to be attended to , but the villagers ignored all that and gathered at the village square for theatre.
Daniella Nyabusha (17), from Huni Village is leading the proceedings in this drama set up.
Her acting prowess will leave many with envy, and with such talent within such a rural set up is all what the 'gods of health' need in this poverty-stricken area.
The drama club executes their mandate well as they fight HIV and Aids and gender-based violence (GBV) issues through acting.
"Theatre is one of the tools we use to reach to the audience as we educate them on HIV and Aids-related issues. The information reaches the target through laughter, this is the power of theatre," said Nyabusha.
"Straight talk and dialogues do work in information dissemination but with theatre you are not wrong. Theatre is good," she added.
Murewa district is no exception in HIV prevalence rates in Mashonaland East Province.
The province is confronted with a myriad of HIV-relates challenges, which include child marriages, drug and substance abuse, multiple concurrent partnerships and school dropouts.
A number of HIV intervention models in the province have been employed.
These include Brotha2Brotha, Sista2Sista, Behaviour Change and Communication, Comprehensive Sexuality Education and DREAMS, which are all designed to address the needs of various population segments from youth to adults depending on their settings.
Beitbridge-based author and lawyer Jabulani Mzinyathi said theatre is a powerful tool when it comes to conveying messages especially in rural areas.
"Our people love both actions and words. This drives the message home quite effectively. Long after the dramatis personae have left the stage the performance and the message remain etched in people's minds. Theatre drives the message home more effectively than flyers and pamphlets. "Even the not-so-literate will get the message. Theatre is an integral part of our lives. A graveside eulogy is not as effective as the dramatisation of how a deceased person used to live. So the use of theatre is a very effective communication tool," he said.
About 1945 people succumbed to HIV and AIDS related diseases in Mashonaland East province in 2021.
However, HIV and Aids prevalence in the same province has declined from over 35% in 2010 to 14,2% in 2021.
National Aids Council provincial manager for Mashonaland East Wilfred Dube said they are using multiple tools of information dissemination in fighting HIV-AIDS and its stigma.
"Information dissemination is crucial in fighting HIV AIDS hence the use of multiple tools to reach the targeted audiences. Apart from theatre, there is song, radio programmes and jingles-all contribute in this fight," he said.
Arts critic and journalist Plot Mhako said since time immemorial dramas have been one of the best mediums to convey messages in communities.
"Imagine a kid watching a drama, he then goes home and narrates the same to his parents, the message is conveyed. Theatre is one of the best mediums to relay messages," said Mhako.
Though she hasn't taken her acting professionally, Nyabusha is indeed a village champion. Her acting prowess has benefited the community in fighting HIV and Aids thanks to the Sista2Sista programme she joined.