BULAWAYO - Deputy minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Supa Mandiwanzira has described local business people as selective in their conduct on supporting the local arts.
Mandiwanzira, who was addressing delegates at the official opening of the Inxusa Festival in Bulawayo on Tuesday, said local arts festivals were benefiting from what he termed “non-indigenous” sponsors instead of the opposite.
“Where is the corporate sector in Zimbabwe in supporting this kind of initiative?” Mandiwanzira asked.
“I am asking a question and I am coming up with a conclusion that despite the fact that most of the leaders of the companies on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange are just like me, they are indigenous but they are racist in the way they support festivals.
“Festivals are part of us and they make their own contribution to Zimbabwe but the reality of the matter is that festivals that are organised by non-indigenous people have a great corporate support in this country.”
He said it was disheartening that banks rush to pour money into international festivals while companies fight to sponsor international artists to come and perform at those festivals.
Mandiwanzira said he was disappointed that he did not notice any corporate support at the Inxusa Festival yet some companies are seized with foreign art initiatives.
“If you have been to Harare there is a place called Alliance Francaise, its an institution by a French government to promote French culture.
“If you drive past the Alliance Francaise today, you will find a big banner telling you that a lot of support has been poured into redeveloping infrastructure by Old Mutual. I haven’t seen a banner here by Old Mutual but they are supporting French culture. Yet they should be supporting our own culture,” he said.
The minister urged the corporate sector to invest where they operate.
“We should be investing in institutions like this in communities out there. The majority of these people who are heading these corporates were not born in Borrowdale or Morningside, they were born in the same places but just because you have crossed the railway line, that must not disconnect you from where the people are,” Mandiwanzira said.
He said if proper investment was made in the arts fraternity, massive revenue could be generated as well as creating employment opportunities in the country.
Mandiwanzira further indicated that his ministry has “serious commitment to the arts industry.”