Artists demand space in national budget
By Tinaani Nyabereka
Gweru- Artists are crying foul following what they termed as neglect by the Central Government and have tabled demands including equal coverage in the media and funding from government.
Artists are demanding to be allocated funding in the 2019 budget.
Raising concerns with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development in Gweru recently artists said they have suffered neglect from government.
Midlands Arts Rights board member (MARBM) and Poet, Dumisani Sibanda said lack of resources and funding has left many artists resorting to move outside the country to produce and sell their products to the outside market.
“Most artists have been left vulnerable because we lack government support on funding and infrastructural development has fractured the arts industry as artists are not being appreciated adequately time to use public space available in the mainstream media.
“We also see that most have even left the country to South Africa, Botswana and Zambia because the industry lack funding in the country. We don’t have proper studios and television stations to sell our products because the one which is there is being monopolised,” said Ndlovu.
Popular Artist Josiah Mushowane said there was need for more television stations and equal airplay of all local content since the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) Monopoly had become unsustainable.
“We need more television stations in the country because ,even Provincial based stations will be better because most artists lack the platform to showcase their talents and production .Let me tell you everyone wants to use ZBC TV as it is the only station we have but that cannot be achieved,” he said
Other issues raised included the health sector were government was urged to prioritise the expansion of the health system through construction of more medical facilities, provision of free Maternal health care and funding of the physically disabled people’s health care.
