A renowned artist has called on stakeholders to support and employ drama to promote national unity amidst the prevailing political atmosphere in the country.
Samuel Kasankha has also asked the National Theater Arts Association of Zambia (NATAAZ) to encourage drama that denounces societal ills such as tribalism and regionalism in the country.
Kasankha said national unity dramas can be key in challenging and addressing ills like tribalism, ethnicism, racism and regionalism inclinations in the country’s political arena and everyday lives.
He told ZANIS that the media and other stakeholders need to come on board and consolidate efforts to halt the hate speech and escalating tribalism and regionalism.
Kasankha further called on drama groups to move away from plays of less critical social issues and concentrate on plays that will contribute to the current political discourse in the country.
He noted that the current tribal politics in Zambia should not be condoned but that every effort be made to tone it down through well worked national unity campaigns.
Kasankha observed that failure to act promptly may result in the country being consumed by unmanageable conflicts that may tear across the national divide.
Years back, drama was used as an effective tool of highlighting and promoting various social and political issues. In rural areas and shanty compounds where some people may not have access to both print and electronic media, drama can be used as an effective tool of communicating awareness.
Sadly, most play houses in the country are now a shadow of themselves where people meet to merely relax and chat over a beer.
Oh, Samuel is around? I miss those days of radio drama on Radio 2
Drama as solution to what when tribalism has been simplified to be Tonga and regional as Southern Province and, UPND in politics. Irrespective of what happened when Mazoka passed on (MHSRIP) it would have been perceived as democratic and not tribal had only either Patrick Chisanga or Sakwiba Sikota been left to contest! For the gullible, Tonga is synonymous to regionalism, authoritarian, tribalism, and pride among others. The current expectation is for Tongas to play second fiddle taking the back seat, letting go of ethnic interests and selling their souls to supporting other tribes!
Xenophobia of some sort is surely at the doorstep!