Thursday, March 28, 2024

We should develop our film industry to SADC level – Shikapwasha

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Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the film industry and encouraging its growth in the country.

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services (MIBS), Ronnie Shikapwasha, said it was government’s desire to make the Zambian film industry reach the levels which other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries have attained.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha explained that if the film sector was properly supported, it would supplement government’s efforts of creating job opportunities for the local people.

In a speech ready on his behalf by Director for Press and Planning at the ministry, Juliana Mwila, Gen. Shikapwasha said in this years budget, government has allocate some funds for the growth of the film industry in a bid to attract more players to the sector.

He was speaking at the closure of the National Association of Media Arts (NAMA) workshop and launch of the NAMA website in Lusaka last evening.

He pointed out that his ministry would support all programmes that were aimed at capacity building towards the development of the local film producers.

Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson, has meanwhile disclosed that his ministry has licensed eight privately owned television station, which aimed at promoting the local film productions.

He explained that the television and film industries in any country play an important role in economic development through remitting tax to government.

He added that his ministry was in the process of repealing the theatres and cinematography Act and that it will amend the copyrights and performance Act.

The minister said these pieces of legislation will protect the film industry and artists from piracy.

General Shikapwasha has since thanked the Finnish government for supporting local film producers and has appealed to the corporate world to help government develop the sector.

And speaking earlier, Finnish Ambassador to Zambia Sinikka Antila, said culture should be regarded as one of the resources for national development.

Mrs. Antila explained that it was for this reason that her government was committed to promoting and supporting the global strategy for world heritage.

She disclosed that the Finnish government has a local cooperating fund policy through which civil society development and projects dealing with culture were funded.

She further said the Ministry for Foreigner Affairs of Finland was also sponsoring the cultural exchange productions between Finland and Zambia in order to encourage film producers in the two countries.

The Finnish envoy said this in a speech ready on her behalf by the Programmes Officer at the Finnish Embassy, Melissa Saila.

And National Arts Council Chairperson, Mulenga Kapwepwe thanked the two governments for supporting the development of the film industry, adding that this would go along way in improving local film production in Zambia

ZANIS/MM/KSH/ENDS.

43 COMMENTS

  1. They first need to sort out the stone age media broadcasting equipment before they set their sites on movie production.MOvie and camera equipment is more pricier . this is typical of government quick to start building something while you haven’t even finished building what you started earlier

  2. Shikapwasha is making the same noises I heard from Deepak Patel 15 years ago. Keep on making noise. I will just plug my ears because I’m tired of it!!!

  3. They should try putting up a zambian series like Kabanana or play circle on an international channel. I think they would win an Emmy for screen play because of the 15 minute conversations in one 30 minute sow

  4. :((:((:(( aiming for SADC standards owe! what standards are in SADC?????? you bloggers in the diaspora please go home and help!!!!

  5. Am one of the people who believes that with proper invesment in the film industry our country can earn some few bucks in foreign currency ,look at nigeria for example the country is earning a lot of dollars from their film industry ,so why cant zambia do the same, afterall we have good actors,a good accent(most zambians)and good sceneries to make a good film than what most african countries can do 😕

  6. #7 Why put the weight of zambia on the diaspora’s shoulders. Thats an insult to zambians in zambia because it’s like you are saying they can’t help themselves and always need help from outside. Hollywood, nollywood and bollywood all help themselves they don’t beg their diaspora for help.

  7. #9, you missed the point of my post at #7, thats was meant to say that the minister is not exposed enough for him to aim at sadc standrads coz what standards are in sadc? maybe south africa!

    Otherwise zed people at home are hard working and only let down by the leadership!

  8. Jamaco, where are you? You are the right man for this job. Get a contract as a Media Advisor & Superintendant, isn’t that the job you’re doing here?

  9. Brother Reverend General Ronald, a.k.a Ronnie, Shikapwasha, the problem with my beautiful country is that we talk a lot but do very little.

  10. General Shikapwasha- your govt has failed to develop our country at the most basic levels. All you do is talk talk talk. Get out of here with that lip service and make an actual change if at all you can. I am sick of this useless govt. Let’s call a spade a spade. The MMD govt and all its cohorts are failures. They have no capacity to take Zambia forward. We’re being led by simpletons, and Zambia will never develop. The 2009 budget is an expected case of stup!d#ty. I wasn’t expecting anything better. Failures do what failure is- and that is Zambia for you currently. We need a fresh start with new leaders.

  11. Ba Minister imwe,
    Its easier said than done.

    When you say SADC standards.. ony SA can boast to be an exemplay show case in such a venture. 😕

  12. Imwe ba Minister!! Do not copy another countries. Set your own realistic standards. Other Countries have come a long way to be where they are. So Zambia should also pave its own way first. you can never copy development.

  13. You can even surpass SADC level if you legalise Zambia to produce niyenga films. Ba gelo besu ba matanta very beautiful. I tell you they can become world recognise.

  14. Please Hon Shikapwasha dont forget we are a christian nation , personally i think we will only make headway when we become proud of our culture like our friends the south africans , west africans and so on , these guys have worked so hard to depict there diverse cultures and compared to our own kabanana, loose ends and the like , it leaves much to be desired somebody better do somthing encourage scandal writters .

  15. Shikapwasha iwe Mudala, have you just woken up? Talk is cheap just act and then come out and say Government has done this and that to develop our film industry. Zambians, us are tired of baseless statements like these. Government is looking to do this and that…doh!! We need action. What are we going to remember you by Ronnie hey? Let me think…huh…huh, so far NOTHING!! 😕

  16. “THERE is a lot of bOOshEEtting in MMD because some members think they own President Rupiah Banda, MMD Katuba member of parliament Jonas Shakafuswa has said”.

    EVEN ONE OF THEIR MMD MEMBERS KNOWS THAT MMD ARE JUST BOOSHEETING. BIT WE DON’T NEED TO BE TOLD. MMD BOOSSHEET IS JUST ALLOVER THE PLACE.

  17. Ladies and gentlemen here do you think those milages on cars being advertised on this blog are true? Is it possible for a 1998 car to have clocked only 46000km not mile for all the years. The problem is they think we are all daft and they can massage the odometer because no one will know. Thats why…..

  18. Ba Shikapwasha, please think with your head and not your mouth. You must develop the food industry first, the education system alongside it, the health system and construct good road, rail and telecommunications infrastructure, then you can talk about all this nonsense on films or any entertainment packages. Don’t try to run before you can crawl big old politically promoted general?

  19. Ninshi yabelele LEFTENANT AKALE???hahaha..it used to sound like this……

    BANKLAYS, YUNDAI, ..many more words that just make me laugh on how wrongly they are pronounced.. But fyaleunfwika fye jazz akale..LMAO

  20. The person who wrote is article must be in love with Shikapwasha, how many times can you refere to a person, whose not even the subject of the story.

    …Nevertheless, this is interesting, i hope he promotes the industry and our local talent Cause will be damn if he lying.

  21. Goodmorning bloggers

    ba Ronnie, what film industry is there to develop, look at ZNBC its a mess. MUVI, MOBI, CBC Television Stations are better than the state run tv. Ok so what will ba Ronnie call our film industry,
    Zollyhood 😕 or what.

  22. (Sorry this topic is not related to the story) Today marks 90 days since this Govt was elected into power. They have finished their 3 months probation and as Zambians we have a right to analyse their performance during this timeframe with all fairness. I have been searching for the MMD campaign manifesto and have not got a hold of it ,infact the website for President Banda is down ,anyhow we should still assess their performance so far.
    Accomplishments
    1) Promised to increase University Students meal allowance – The Meal allowances were increased in the first week of office but have not yet taken effect.
    2) Promised to reduce Mealie Meal prices – This was done after much pressure from

  23. various stakeholders.
    3) Promised to reduce the price of fuel – This was done after pressure from various stakeholders.
    I can’t think of any other accomplishments ,bloggers please feel free to add more.
    Weaknesses/Failures
    1.Corruption is still rampart in Zambia
    2. Promised to create 4000 jobs which equates to roughly about 111 jobs a month based upon the 3 year period this Govt will be in power. So far the Govt is behind by 333 jobs not being created.
    3.Lack of a strategic Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timebound policy to empower local investors
    4.Lack of a strategic SMART policy to restructure the health system.
    5.The Fertilizer Support Program is not based on a SMART

  24. strategy as a result it is failing and the inputs are not reaching the intended beneficiaries.
    6)Lack of a strategic SMART policy to restructure the education system in Zambia to offer more practical courses that will allow pupils and students to graduate with an enterprising mentality. lack of a policy to build Public Universities in each province.
    7)lack of a a strategic SMART Policy to counter the impact of the Economic Global crisis in Zambia.
    8)lack of a strategic SMART policy to boost Tourism in Zambia, this policy should have a dependency on many factors which should also be SMARTly implemented such as good road infrastructure throughout Zambia,a deliberate policy on encouraging

  25. 5 star hotels,shopping malls and social amenities to be built throughout Zambia where there are Tourist attractions.
    9.Too much dependence on foreign investors to the point that there is no serious screening,vetting and Zambia does not maxmize on financial profits and social responsibility ventures from the said investors.
    10)MP’s salaries being increased in the first month of this Govt bein in power even when suce a move was denied during campaign time.
    11) Wasted tax payers money and financial resources in sending Govt officials for medical treatment abroad which is not even part of the annual budget.
    12)Too many trips by the President instead of delegating and spending this crucial

  26. time to brainstorm and tackle the problems that Zambia is facing.
    13)No strategic SMART plan to ensure that the NCC delivers a constitution that is representative of the Zambian population at minimal cost.
    14)No strategic SMART policy to ensure that the civil service including local councils is restructured and produces quality services.
    Number 8 should include a strategic SMART policy that encourages multiple Zambian owned airlines to operate local,international including regional and long distance flights.Bloggers feel free to add your analysis. We need to hold accountable every Govt that will ever rule Zambia. Blogging and complaining is the beginning of solutions but we need to go

  27. 10. Gopala-GAZA Truce
    Feb 1st, 2009 at 7:58 pm Vote: 1 0 This man should keep quiet ala no wonder he uses our tax money to send his children abroad

    I think you statement is baseless. If you know any of his children, you will also know that Shikapwasha is not a man that spoon fed his children. Most of his children earned scholarships abroad.

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