Award-winning actor, writer, director and producer Tafadzwa Muzondo, whose play No Choice, No Voice was banned for political reasons, says it is unjust to ban work without giving artists the chance to appeal.
“In all logic, honesty and fairness, how can a government put in place a Censorship Board that bans plays and not have an Appeals Board to deal with any appeals against its decisions?” he asked.
“Is this not a deliberate ploy to suppress artists without giving them an opportunity to be heard? Does the same ministry not benefit from the arts when police officers are hired to cover arts events? What justice is that when you just ban a piece of art without giving the artist a right to be heard?” added Muzondo, whose play is about youth leaders from opposing parties who decide to speak jointly against violence in their communities in favour of reconciliation and peace.
The law provides for a board of appeal, but none exists at the moment and mystery surrounded its establishment. No Choice, No Voice was banned in July by the Board of Censors after it was deemed “inciteful and against the spirit of national healing and reconciliation”. The play was nominated as the National Arts Merits Awards 2011 Outstanding Theatrical Production and has been acclaimed around the Southern African Development Community region as well as locally.
Zimbabwe Human Lawyers Rights has intervened in some cases and enabled the play to be performed after it was banned in some parts of the country by police, who cited security reasons.
Post published in: Arts