Cracks Emerge Within Zimbabwe Theatre Sector……. as Elders Call for Elective Meeting
Arts Views with Thabani H Moyo
A document bearing Zimbabwe Theatre Association logo (ZiTA) calling for an elective meeting has revealed how disjointed and disorganised the theatre sector in Zimbabwe is. ZiTA as an organisation has origins that are not very clear with some and smell of underhand dealings.
It started with a canvased membership in Bulawayo over a decade ago. It spread to become a national organisation with a few selected members enjoying the fruits of the association. Those who have good memories will remember how some theatre productions were touring under the banner of ZiTA.
It was clear for all that the association was well resourced then. Those who were left out of the gravy train that was brought by ZiTA complained in their small rented spaces. The questions which were asked then and now are, who is behind ZiTA? Is the Association legitimate or a one day wonder that will become another failed project?
On the 9th of November 2021 an unofficial memorandum, because it bore no official signatures, calling for an elective Annual General Meeting made circulations on social media. The document was or is calling for an elective meeting of paid up members on the 27th of November 2021 at Jasen Mphepo Little Theatre.
The document was then followed by minutes of a meeting between the current ZiTA Chairperson Teddy Mangawa and the Elders (Daves Guzha, Peter Churu, Jasen Mphepho, Daniel Maphosa and Josh Nyapimbi). The minutes have a subtext of capture, cornering, bullying and a coup in the process. It reads like a forced confession of ‘l and my team have failed you my elders, do as you please upon us.’ To many the move by the elders is ‘a treacherous and bullish act’ because ZiTA has office holders who are mandated to carry out such communications. Who mandated the elders to call for an elective AGM?
The call for a ZiTA Elective Meeting and the minutes trying to sanitise and legitimise the faulty process has been met with anger and mockery. The theatre sector has been ripped apart. One can but only empathise with the current ZiTA office bearers who now have to deal with the elephant in the room. The truth is that the so called Elders are strategists who know exactly what they are doing and where they want to end at.
They are a click of well-resourced individuals who run successful entities in the sector and are not ashamed to use their financial brutality to get what they want. Standing against their wish needs men and women who know that oginya amaganu kumele abe lompumelo omkhulu.
In response, the current committee has said the call is “an unconstitutional Elective AGM.” In the same response the committee argued that the elders are ‘reversing the position of free membership.’ The committee goes on to state that ‘the position of offering free membership was meant to attract membership even though it didn’t yield the anticipated results.
We would also like to highlight that both Mr. Mpepo and Mr Churu are not members and there is no record of the submission of their membership forms.’ It appears as if the idea to have paid up members only is a strategy to shut out noise makers who might disturbed the ‘elephants’ as they prepare for a meal.
For theatre enthusiasts, it is common knowledge that the current ZiTA team has been pushing for membership, registration with National Aids Council of Zimbabwe and Elective Annual General Meeting for December 2021. The current committee has worked with no resources that the previous committee used to enjoy and some of the elders were in the committee by then. The resources disappeared with the previous committee leaving the current committee to scrap and beg.
Are the Elders genuine in their agenda? Why are they only coming out now and quickly calling for an elective AGM? Is the sector operating at their mercy? The credentials of the five individuals who have decided to form a club and call themselves elders are not disputed. They are ‘respected’ gentlemen who have and continue to contribute immensely to the sector. But the latest move dents them. It stains them and might leave them with an egg on their faces.
If they are true to their agenda, what has happened to the spirit of advising others? Do we have to take advantage of the less powerful because we feel we are well resourced? Below are some of the responses from theatre artists.
‘If the elders wanted members to pay subs,why not approach all the current board members acho and not just meet the chair.votaura nevanhu.but apa zvirikuita sekuti kune 2 that huh ma Zita.’ MaNdlovu
‘What we know is there is a ZITA committee under Teddy Mangava. Has that committee failed or been dissolved?” Asks Baya
We don’t feel disrespected rather disappointed’ Theatre Artist
“I am more confused about the association now, also avo vamuri kuti “the elders” who are they? Why would there be a meeting concerning the association and members were not included. Something is not right here,” Francis said.
