GOVERNMENT has called on the corporate world in Zambia to make it part of their policy to utilise the services of musicians as a way of rendering support to the artists.
This is according to a statement released to the media by Press Secretary at the Zambian Embassy in Pretoria Nicky Shabolyo.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba has urged businesses in Zambia to emulate their South African counterparts who have made it part of their plans to always include performances by musicians at their functions.
“In South Africa, corporate institutions have made it more or less mandatory for their business lunches, product launches, end-of-year events and other functions to be graced by their local artists as a way of supporting them. From such efforts, you find that the industry is well developed and competitive,” he said.
Mr. Mwamba said the Patriotic Front Government realised the important role that artists played in both the country’s social and economic sectors hence the creation of the Ministry of Tourism and Arts to specifically look into their affairs.
He appealed to stakeholders to support artists in Zambia by reasonably remunerating them.
“The Patriotic Front Government recognises these people as professionals and we wish to encourage other stakeholders to appreciate them and pay them well for their services,” he said.
Mr Mwamba was speaking when Mirriam Mukape (Mampi), Dambisa Lunda (Dambisa), Bernard Katiyo (Za Yellow) and Moses N’gandwe (Chester), paid a courtesy call on him at his office in Pretoria this afternoon.
The four, who are being hosted by the Zambia Association in South Africa (ZASA), are in the country for a series of shows as a precursor to festivities for Valentine’s Day which falls in the next two weeks. Their first performance will be on Saturday, 6th February, 2016 at Scarlet Ribbon in Edenvale, Johannesburg while details for the second show expected to be held the following day are yet to be confirmed.
The artists promised “good” shows with Mampi and Dambisa assuring to sample one or two songs from their upcoming releases.
ati Shonongo alilowelelela mutima wanga anatanga baby
Not this man Mwamba again. ..leave it to the relevant ministry…you are a diplomat just stay there or resign!!
This guy is gunning for the presidency of Zambia soon. And LT is his platform. Don’t say I never warned you.
He wants to use them for campaigns.
His small brain thinks that Zambians can not see through or think beyond his level.
What campaign naiwe & Why do sound worried? Are the people in diaspora voting?
I don’t think it’s that bad an idea. Music is a great way to bring people together, and musicians show great dedication to their craft. Maybe I’m showing my ignorance of the politics behind this, but in essence it surely can’t be a bad thing.
Mwamba is speaking sense. This is one of the most neglected industries in Zed because govt, corporate and even individual citizens don’t support it. Police don’t arrest piraters, business thinks music is that which they can buy from america, broadcasters think music should be played for free. No royalties. The Citizen seed nothing wrong in buying pirate copies of CDS that someone has worked hard for. Zedians Give musicians a break
WHICH MUSIC? DO WE HAVE MUSIC IN ZAMBIA? OH! OK, THERE’S UNCLE REX, MUTINTA MWALE, MALEMBE MALEMBE, PAPA BRUNO, SUWILANJI, AND FEW OTHERS. BUT, THE REST OF OUR MUSICIANS AND THEIR MUSIC ARE SERIOUS RUBBISH.
Peter I agree with you.
It is very difficult for the corporate world to support our musicians because the majority of them are not even worth being referred to as musicians. Look at the four musicians whom Emmanuel Mwamba has paraded. Which corporate world would want to waste money on such pretenders?
Mwamba Luchembe reloaded!