TOO LITTLE TOO LATE

– Entertainers feel the heat
– Opening bottle stores not enough
– 6 months on zero income
– Costs keep piling up
– Zero support from Govt

Players in the showbiz industry have called on Government to setup a special fund or waivers as over 70 percent of their members have indicated that they are unable to resume operations when the sector is finally reopened.
This follows this week’s decision by Government to allow liquor stores to start operating after easing of some of the stringent regulations put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19.
On Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa announced that Cabinet had resolved to permit the sale of alcohol at all licensed liquor outlets but imbibers are not allowed to drink on the premises.
It has been over six months since entertainment businesses, among them bars, nightclubs, amusement parks and open air joints for both kids and adults have been allowed to operate. Events organisers have not been spared either, with most events companies either operating illegally or having indicated that they are unable to resume when the situation normalises.
“There is nothing to cheer here,” said a spokesperson for the Harare Bar Owners Association after the announcement by Cabinet on Tuesday.
“How do they think we’ll survive? We have overheads, landlords still want their rentals sometimes in United States dollars, it does not make sense. Where did the money meant to help businesses like ours go?” said the spokesperson.
Edith WeUtonga, the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Musicians Union (Zimu), said artists were finding it hard to make ends meet due to the lockdown.
She decried the fact that the promised cushioning allowances had not reached the artists, leaving the sector completely hopeless.
“As you may know, the country has been in a state of emergency for a while and then came the lockdown. We have been waiting for the Covid-19 relief funds but it has not yet been disbursed,” said WeUtonga.

She said the reopening of bars had given them hope for “minimum gatherings for our musicians to be able to perform as this is our office, the stage”.
Socialite and events manager Wanisayi “Mahwindo” Mutandwa said their industry had been severely crippled by the lockdown.
“The lockdown has gravely affected the entertainment industry as artists rely on gate takings and live shows. There are no sales from their music releases because of piracy. Artists are not happy.
“Our clubs have been severely affected, especially our staff who need salaries but there is no business. Some of us are paying bills and rentals for premises even if we are closed,” protested Mahwindo.
“Our comeback into operations is going to be very difficult,” she quipped.
Mahwindo called on the Government to consider nightclubs, which have been affected “100 percent”.
“Our main plea is for Government to consider our plight which has seen nightclubs being affected 100 percent. Yes, they have opened up bars, now they should at least allow us to open nightclubs to host between 100 and 150 people for a club that has the capacity to host 500 people,” Mahwindo said.
“We beg them to consider us just as they did for restaurants and fast food outlets, so that we can survive. They can also impose a time limit say from 7pm to midnight.”
She, however, added that it seemed there was light at the end of the tunnel as the reopening of the tourism industry means relief for them as well.
The wailing in the showbiz sector has been compounded by a recent decision by the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Recreation’s to interfere with a tourism event being hosted in Kariba where some DJs are expected to perform.
Biggie Katuka, the event organiser queried how the Arts Ministry and the National Arts Council could try and stop his event when it was a tourism event where all health protocols related to the prevention of the spread of Covid-19 would be adhered to.
Many have also come out criticising the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) headed by Nicholas Moyo, for waking up from its deep slumber just to stop an event yet artists are starving and desperate, and there has been no word from them.
“How can they (NACZ and Ministry) be so heartless? The entertainment industry doesn’t feed artists only – there are cleaners, security guards, caterers, sound system owners, technicians, PR, engineers, tent owners, barricade fence businesses and light technicians.
“They should lobby like other Ministries and parastatals to have some gradual reopening of the industry to save jobs and people’s livelihoods that have been on hold since March. Instead they want to ‘dira jecha’ (pour sand) into an opportunity that has arisen. It is unacceptable,” said bar owners.
NACZ spokesperson Rodney Ruwende defended his organisation, saying they were merely “an agent of Government”.
However, he said “we are concerned that the prolonged closure of the sector is affecting both the livelihood and creativity of artists”.
On the reopening of the sector, Ruwende said it is the “prerogative of Government”.
Meanwhile, the tourism industry has been opened and both domestic and international flights have been given the greenlight to resume operations.
On October 1, 2020 international flights will be heading to Zimbabwe as government has opened the skies to boost the tourism sector which is vibrant and at its peak during the summer season.
The recent 100 percent opening up of the tourism sector has given showbiz players hope as their services are required at tourism joints to entertain guests.