The Sunday Mail
Takudzwa Chihambakwe —
FROM President Robert Mugabe, his Vice-Presidents, the army and various social and mainstream media platforms, one of the most talked about issues in Zimbabwe today is corruption. Graft also caught the attention of playwrights.
A Hurungwe-based theatre house, Hurungwe Arts Production, has delivered a play that warns Zimbabweans that if nothing is done about this problem today, future generations will continue to suffer from institutionalised corruption. The producer of “Caged”, Joel Zilala, says Government has to act now to change the future.
“‘Caged’ is a futuristic play showcasing the future of Zimbabwe based on the current policies Government is implementing.
“The story revolves around an industrial setup and we bring out a number of issues that are affecting the smooth flow of that business, which could have been avoided had the Government made wiser decisions earlier,” explains Zilala, adding, “One of the areas that is highlighted as a weakness in policy implementation by Government is corruption.”
Having taken the audience into Zimbabwe’s future, year 2032 to be specific, one expects to watch a play that really shows the difference between now and then. But alas, Zilala and team paint a bleak future, one where corruption is still rampant.
“Caged” highlights the plight of workers at a company run by executives who are busy squandering cash, living lavish lives while they are not paying their employees. Sounds familiar? The play shows Zimbabwe being a top exporter of goods to countries across the globe, depicting a spin-off of the empowerment strategies that Government is implementing. Sadly though, the company is on the verge of collapse due to corruption at all levels within its structures.
Another element that was touched on that is of importance is the need to address sexual harassment in the work place. In patriarchal industry, women are vulnerable and if policies are not implemented now to address these issues, there will be a rise in sexual harassment and abuse of women in the workplace.
The play — written by Patrick Mahlasera of “Wedding Day” fame, assisted by Getrude Vimbayi Munhamo — has a five-member cast that features veterans of the game, namely; Antony Tongai, Godwin Gutsa, Leo Magada, Zilala and Dalma Chiwereva.
Chiwereva, the only female member of the cast, puts up another great stage performance as she has been doing throughout 2016. She has been consistent in her roles in “The Sun Will Rise Again” and “Lamentations @12” amongst others.
“I play Kundai in ‘Caged’ and I show how women are vulnerable in a male-dominated industrial sector,” said Chiwereva. “The role depicts the need for our Government to extensively push for women to be empowered in the work place in line with its drive for gender equality.”
Having taken the audience into Zimbabwe’s future, year 2032 to be specific, one expects to watch a play that really shows the difference between now and then. But alas, Zilala and team paint a bleak future, one where corruption is still rampant.
