Arts group to empower youths, women

NHIMBE Trust, a non-profit arts advocacy organisation in Bulawayo, is set to produce content for radio and television and to train youths and women in broadcast production through its School Playwrights and Actors’ Academy (SPAA) class and Women in Theatre (WIT) in 2015 and 2016.

NHIMBE Trust, a non-profit arts advocacy organisation in Bulawayo, is set to produce content for radio and television and to train youths and women in broadcast production through its School Playwrights and Actors’ Academy (SPAA) class and Women in Theatre (WIT) in 2015 and 2016.

NONHLANHLA SIBANDA OWN CORRESPONDENT

Nhimbe Trust communications manager Ronald Moyo said the SPAA class comprising 30 high school learners from various schools in Bulawayo and WIT consisting of 20 women, would produce a television and radio series in addition to play productions in 2015 through the support of Africalia Belgium.

Speaking at the SPAA graduation ceremony at Masiye Camp in Matopos on Friday evening, Nhimbe Trust executive director Joshua Nyapimbi said the organisation would take advantage of the digitalisation of the media in Zimbabwe to produce broadcast content.

“In terms of where we are going next year, maybe for the next two years, we are moving into radio,” he said.

“I think you all know that Zimbabwe is going digital by June next year and we are expected to produce content for radio and for television.

“I am not imagining any other radio station. ZBC for me is the broadcaster of first choice and I know why I am saying that. Raisedon (Baya) and Memory (Kumbota) will confirm what ZBC has done in terms of content provided.”

Raisedon Baya
Raisedon Baya

Nyapimbi said venturing into television and radio production was aimed at bringing back content to ZBC through which people could identify with local culture.

“I think we can make or unmake ZBC either in terms of television or in terms of radio and I think really if we are genuine about the future of this country, let’s get ZBC where it used to be in terms of Sinjalo and all those other productions where people could identify with our local culture,” he said.

Nyapimbi said SPAA and WIT would have three productions in total next year for theatre, television and radio.

“Next year we will have six productions; three under SPAA and three under WIT,” he said.

He added that his organisation would be setting up a studio for the training of students for radio and television.

“It’s not just about doing a call or SPAA students getting a script for radio plays, we are going to do a curricular on how to rehearse for radio plays and you are going to be trained on radio drama. In terms of producing, we will set up a studio for that purpose,” he said.