HARARE - Artists for Human Rights (AHR) in Zimbabwe last week denounced the continued arrest and intimidation of artists in the country by state security forces. (Pictured: Thank you Cashel Valley police - Daves Guzha, producer of Rooftop Promotions)
Over the past months the increasingly paranoid state security apparatus has been targeting artists. Among those who have been arrested are the whole set of Rooftop Entertainment, who were picked up under the notorious Public and Order Security Act. The police arrested them for holding unsanctioned public gatherings, notwithstanding the fact that Rooftop has a Censorship certificate, issued under the laws of the country, that entails them to carry out public performances. AHR says the state security agents should be cognisant of the dictates of the law.
We urge the security agents to recognise the rights of artists to conduct their work in peace and without hindrance as guaranteed by the existing Zimbabwe constitution. Artists have the right to freedom of expression and association. They should therefore be afforded those rights to showcase their talents and conduct civic education while contributing solutions to many problems that face our country, it said in a statement.
However, in Zimbabwe it is increasingly becoming difficult for artists to showcase their talent and also educate the public on topical issues. The Rooftop production, Rituals, highlights the national healing exercise that has failed to take off at policy level. The play, challenges the society to explore traditional ways of healing and reconciliation in settling family disputes, especially when they are political.
Even though the country has an Organ on National Healing, which is supposed to carry out national healing, it has failed to make any significant steps towards this, and among the general populace there are many political wounds still to heal.
In some parts of the country, such as Mbare, political temperatures have been running extremely high in recent weeks, and observers say this is evidence of the fact that there is no national healing.
The talented cast of Rooftop was among the nominees in the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe awards presented last week. Critics say they did not win the award, because Rituals is deemed to be politically incorrect. Afraid of repercussions from the state security agents, some artists have withdrawn into their shells. But Rooftop, under the directorship of Daves Guzha, has soldiered on an won recognition and respect far and wide.
When his crew was arrested in Manicaland last month Guzha said, (The arrest) has definitely increased our resolve as artists to tackle national issues and propagate the messages on a broader scale. Thank you Cashel Valley police.
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