BY EVANS MURANGANWA
Zimbabwe Media, Information and Broadcasting Services permanent secretary George Charamba said his ministry would be strict in implementing the 75 percent local content on broadcasting material.
Speaking at the premiere of a local production ‘Sabhuku Vharazipi 2’ in Harare recently, George Charamba said the quota would be effected with so much strictness so as to combat cultural imperialism.
“The 75 percent local content will be followed with the rigour of a mad man and this will enable us to guard against cultural imperialism which I personally am against,” said the permanent secretary who is also the President’s spokesperson.
Charamba also lamented the level of piracy in the creative industry saying the sector should devise methods of dealing with the scourge.
“Piracy is enriching the viewers while pauperising the producers. I challenge the sector to look into other ways like encryption to combat piracy,”he said.
The Media, Information and Broadcasting Services permanent secretary said the corporate world should also to believe in their own artists.
“I was very disturbed to hear that one of our big companies here had to part ways with huge amounts of money reportedly amounting to $30000 each for visiting foreign artist for its concert that was held recently.
“However, local artists who took part in the concert are said to have been given pittance despite them having carried the day,” fumed Charamba.
He went on to say such behaviour of ill self-respect will derail the arts industry.
“With such a deplorable behaviour of not celebrating our own .It will not get us near prestigious events like the World Cultural Festival,” reiterated the president’s spokesperson.
The Broadcast Services Act of 2000 imposes a 75 percent local content clause with the remaining 10 percent being dedicated to the region and five percent to international content.
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