The making of Presidential Dogz

This presidential behaviour has led to harassment, abuse of LGBTI rights and physical attacks. This has created a volatile situation where both the state and its overzealous supporters have conspired to make the operations of the LGBTI network in Zimbabwe difficult.

This has been exacerbated by the fact that ordinary Zimbabweans have poor access to information for making informed life decisions  related to LGBTI issues and human rights. In Zimbabwe we have only one television station presenting news and it’s owned by the state. The country needs to create a forum for debate of LGBTI issues.

We therefore propose a project to expand platforms for community engagement and dialogue in a spontaneous way. An alternative creative media means increasing access to diverse sources of information.

The proposed project intends to make a low-cost film titled “Presidential Dogz”. This title was taken from the President of Zimbabwe’s gay hate-speech” gays and lesbians are worse than dogs”.

The proposed film script has been developed in association with Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe” GALZ. The film will be distributed throughout the country through a cost recovery price of $1.
It will also be launched on social media platforms and community screenings will be done in areas without access to electricity.

Risks & Challenges
We anticipate some degree of political interference and intimidation in the implementation of the project by political forces.
The ruling party in Zimbabwe has developed techniques of divide and rule in the artistic circle, whereby they will create parallel projects to run alongside the proposed initiative.

But Vhitori entertainment is known for finishing its projects no matter the amount of intimidation from security forces. Our film is fully supported by Zimbabwe lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) just in case.

We believe Presidential Dogz will lift the spirit and moral of all oppressed LGBTI communities across the world and have more impact in Africa and the Arab world. For more information please see www.indiegogo.com/projects/presidential-dogz/x/8632332#/story. – SILVANOS MUDZVOVA, Director, Vhitori Trust, Tel +263 772 895 627/772 729 284