Arts Views with Thabani H Moyo
ZIMBABWE Republic Police (ZRP) officers enforcing COVID-19 regulations grabbed attention away from the artists who were supposed to be centre of attraction as they stormed the stage to stop Bulawayo Arts Awards. This took place during Sikhosana, the man of the moment’s acceptance speech. The incident has received attention on different social media platform with most Bulawayo Artists citing selective application of the law by ZRP. Most artists have cited how some events have been allowed to go on until morning without any disruptions especially in Harare but that was not the case with Bulawayo Arts Awards as they were made to end early.
Bulawayo Arts Awards have become one of the prime events in Zimbabwe and in the region. This year’s event was one of the well organised given the prevailing challenges brought by COVID-19. It was splendid. The awards justify and underline why Bulawayo is regarded as the epicentre of arts and culture in Zimbabwe. Everything artistic in Zimbabwe is seen to have its roots in Bulawayo. BAAs are there to celebrate the creative impetus of Bulawayo and Matabeleland region artists. One would therefore expect ZRP to take recognition of such an event and provide proper guidelines as to how it could be held without an incidents taking place. How ZRP ended up tainting such an event by interrupting the proceedings might be puzzling and baffling. One might feel stopping the event was too harsh and conducted in an unprofessional manner. However there some objectivity is needed when analysing the whole incident. Facts need to be mentioned as they are and analysed.
First it is common knowledge that COVID-19 cases are rising in Bulawayo and hence we need to be extra careful when hosting events. There is need to make sure that everyone is safe. From the images that were taken when the police officers stormed the stage one can draw interesting comparisons between artists on stage with the police officers. The police officers came in wearing masks and they were wearing them appropriately. It was as if they were making a demonstration to the artists on what is expected of them. On the other side, the artists did not even have masks with them. That is an unforgivable error of omission under the circumstances given the rate at which the virus is spreading. All those on stage were expected to have masks on with the exception of Sikhosana who at the time was giving his acceptance speech.
From the same picture one can see that Social Distancing was not observed. They were too many people on that stage for what was taking place at that moment, accepting a gong by Sikhosana. It is such flouting of COVID- 19 regulations which will make the general public side with the police officers and say they were rightfully doing their duty to make sure that the spread of the deadly virus is slowed down. On the area of observing COVID-19 regulations the organisers were found wanting and there is empirical evidence to support that. During the preparations organisers emphasized that coronavirus regulations were going to be adhered to. Maybe the celebratory mood caught up with those attending the event and they forgot about their safety.
Had the event started on time it would have ended before the curfew hour. Sometimes there is need to observe state laws to avoid unnecessary trouble. The curfew hour was approaching and the police were ‘just doing their duty’ of enforcing it. From the police side it will sound as if the organisers were alerted that time was up and they did not respond to the call. This was then followed by the stage invasion.
The stage invasion by ZRP does not give our country a good image. BAAs are meant to sell our Culture and Creative Industries as Bulawayo and as a country. The event was being streamed live for the world to see. Such unfortunate incidents print wrong images about Zimbabwe. Instead of marketing it they dent it. The event was cleared and as such one believes that instead of ‘confrontation’ another better method could have been used to stop the event. The issue could have been dealt with backstage.
To all the nominees and winners congratulations. Hope is that 2021 will bring with it good things.
Thabani H Moyo writes in his personal capacity and opinions expressed here are his.
