The Sunday Mail
Zimbabwe’s Board of Censors on Friday urged “organisers and promoters to abide by and comply with the law” when providing public entertainment.
The board said this in a public statement at the end of a two-day induction workshop and board meeting held in Harare last week.
This coincides with the recent furore over the “banning” of South African socialite Zodwa Libram aka Zodwa Wabantu from “performing at the carnival”.
Reads the statement: “Legally, any musicians, performers, and entertainers are required to comply with the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act (Chapter 10:04), Section 16, which regulates public entertainment.
“In compliance, the organisers or promoters of any such entertainment must, therefore, approach the Censorship Board to fulfil Section 16 for consideration.”
The statement also spoke directly to organisers and/or promoters involved in the Harare International Carnival.
“…with respect to the Harare International Carnival (2017), all musicians, performers and entertainers, through the organisers/promoters, should be subjected to the law.
“We, therefore, await the organisers and promoters to abide by and comply with the law.
“If Section 16 has not been complied with, Section 17(1)(c) authorises the board to prohibit certain exhibitions and entertainment, by notice in writing addressed to any person who is or is believed by the board to be in charge of the giving or intended giving of any public entertainment.”
However, neither the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, the organisers of the carnival, nor Devine Assignments, who are bringing Zodwa Wabantu to Harare, have received communication from the Board of Censors indicating that Zodwa or any other act has been banned.
Nevertheless, Devine Assignments director Mr Biggie Chinoperekwei welcomed the board’s statement, saying the entertainment firm has always complied with the law.
“This is not the first time that Zodwa is coming to Zimbabwe. We have always treated her as a tourist because what she does is a new phenomenon.
“She is a magnet that draws people, yet she is not a performer,” said Chinoperekwei.
He added: “We look forward to engaging with this new board and finding common ground.
“There are a lot of grey areas, especially around this Zodwa issue and it would be great to meet and find a way forward.”
ZTA head of corporate affairs Mr Sugar Chagonda said: “She has been brought here before as a tourist.
“We are a tourism board and tourism is soft diplomacy.
“That is why Dr (Karikoga) Kaseke sought to soften up Zodwa when she expressed concern about her personal liberties coming under attack.
“Mind you, South Africa is one of our biggest source markets.
“If Zodwa wants to grace our carnival, she is most welcome and we will do what we can to ensure she enjoys her stay here and market further our programmes as a country.”
Mr Chagonda clarified that Zodwa was never meant to perform at the Carnival Street Party or any other carnival event, saying: “She is meant to grace our Samba Night as a socialite; nothing else.”
