By James Gwati-Music promoters say they are preparing for the resumption of live performances one year after the arts sector has not been active due to the COVID-19 induced lockdowns.

Music Associations and Arts Promoters in Zimbabwe chairperson Partson “Chipaz” Chimbodza told NewsDay that they were optimistic about the reopening of the showbiz sector following their meeting with Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation deputy minister Tinomudaishe Machakaire in Harare on Tuesday.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak in March last year, physical gatherings for live concerts have remained banned as part of a raft of measures to curb the spread of the deadly virus and as a result, most artistes are struggling to survive.

“As the chairman of Arts Promoters in Zimbabwe, I requested to meet the sector’s deputy minister, Honourable Tino Machakaire and he agreed to interface with us and we shared issues that have greatly affected us and our sector at large under this COVID-19 environment. This was the main agenda of the meeting and we are happy that it went well,” Chipaz said.
“I know we have so many artistes, but they all carry different weights.

“So, we chose artistes we thought would add weight to come on behalf of the industry through some could not make it as they were out of Harare, but all genres were represented.

“Also our plea to the good government led by his Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa is for it to assist our sector by giving us a financial support scheme the same way they do with command agriculture where farmers are given inputs to be paid back after harvesting.”