By Theatre in the Park
40263 Harare Gardens
Cnr L.Takawira / H. Chitepo Ave
Harare
It’s Not Just Art, It’s A Way Of Life
Theatre in the Park Statement on Lord of Kush Screening on 27 July 2019.
The arrest and arraignment of Daves Guzha, Producer and Peter Churu, Creative Director (Theatre in the Park) together with Tendai Maduwa and Kudakwashe Bwititi, the producers of Lord of Kush represents an unfortunate low in the relationship between the creative sector and state governance systems in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe Republic Police were clumsy in the way that they carried out their mandate in this instance.
It is our belief that this was an abuse of their constitutional powers and a blatant violation of our artistic and constitutional freedoms.
Besides being a bastion for free thinking and expression, Theatre in the Park provides employment for many young people engaged in various forms of creative enterprise.
With a track record spanning over 24 years, many careers have been birthed and nurtured here.
It is in that light that we were pleased to host the screening of Lord of Kush.
On Friday 26th of July 2019, we met officers from the Office of the President and Cabinet to clarify issues around the screening scheduled for the following day.
When police officers from Harare Central Police came to shut down the film screening on Saturday 27 July 2019, we put our foot down in upholding the film makers freedom of expression.
While we succeeded in ensuring the screening, unfortunately Daves Guzha and Peter Churu were arrested together with Tendai Maduwa and Kuda Bwititi, the makers of the film.
We stand firm and resolute as a safe space for free thinking and expression.
We believe the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act needs aligning to the new constitution.
We also believe that arms of state, in this case the police failed citizens in the manner in which they went about doing their job on Saturday 27 July 2019.
We now have an unnecessary court case at sad variance with government’s ease of doing business mantra and austerity gospel.
The attendant negative world wide media attention does very little to aid the Second Republic’s re-engagement efforts. Re-engagement should never be at the expense or sacrifice of the very creative and cultural industry and Zimbabweans who are an intrinsic part of our sovereignty.
WE remain committed to being Zimbabwean!!.
Asante Sana
www.theatreinthepark.co.zw
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