HARARE - Award-winning producer and script writer for the movie Gringo the Trouble Maker, Enock Chihombori, broke down on stage as he received an award for the Outstanding Screen Production Full Length Film from the National arts Merit Awards (Nama) over the weekend in Bulawayo.
Chihombori failed to hold back tears before a fully packed Bulawayo Rainbow Towers lounge on Saturday, saying the award he had received was the only bright light for the pirated drama — Gringo the Trouble Maker.
“Of all the productions I have made, this (Gringo the Trouble Maker)is the one that gave me the biggest headache.
“Nama is the only bright light that comes from it...I used my money to make it but nothing has come from it as it was pirated,” he said while shedding tears.
He dedicated the award to his colleague, the late producer Lilian Chidavaenzi, who passed on three months before the release of the comedy-drama was released.
“I dedicate this award to producer Chidavaenzi who worked tirelessly on this project and she always told me that she was working for her family.
“Now the hurdle I am facing is how to convince her children that nothing came out of the project due to piracy,” he said.
Chihombori is reported to have spent close to $50 000 on the project, however, the movie was sold by pirates and was therefore a big loss.
At the same event, Olivia Charamba aka Mai Charamba reinforced the Botswana-based filmmaker’s words as she said responsible authorities should act to save the showbiz industry from collapsing.
“I was moved by Chihombori’s words and I urge authorities to visibly put stern measures to curb piracy otherwise artists will continue to work for nothing,” she said while receiving the Outstanding Female Musician award.