PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu is alive to the numerous challenges hampering the growth of the creative arts industry in the country.
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Hon Dora Siliya says this is why the Government announced the setting up of a K30 million revolving fund for those in the sector.
Ms. Siliya says Government is currently working out modalities on how the K30 million will be disbursed to various artists across the country.
She says if well harnessed and supported, the creative arts industry has potential to create employment for many people especially the youth.
Ms. Siliya said this during a meeting with the Film Makers Guild of Zambia at her office in Lusaka today.
The Minister called on the private sector to join hands with Government in revamping the creative arts industry by offering financial support.
She said there was need for Zambian financial institutions to take a chance on Zambian filmmakers by coming up with financial products that would help spur the growth of the industry.
Ms. Siliya said in countries like India and Nigeria where the sector is a huge contributor to their Gross Domestic Product, financial institutions have played a center-stage role.
“There is need for all Zambians to come together and work on improving the film sector because this is a hanging fruit with potential to grow our economy,” she said.
Ms. Siliya noted that while Government has a responsibility to facilitate the promotion and growth of film in the country, filmmakers have an equally important role to play in telling the Zambian story.
“There are a lot of stories that you can tell about Zambia. We are tired of hearing stories about politicians, you have to think outside the box so that people can easily relate with their everyday life,” she said.
Ms. Siliya said as long as people do not accept the need to watch locally produced content, the industry will continue to face challenges of financing.
She challenged artists to organize themselves and avoid working in isolation for the growth of the industry.
Ms. Siliya said Government has built studios in all the ten provinces of the country in order to reduce the cost of production for artists.
Meanwhile, Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga advised artists not to despise humble beginnings.
Mr. Malupenga said artists should not feel discouraged when they have little capital but instead work harder in order to grow their businesses.
“You have to start from somewhere, all businesses start small. All you need is to have an idea, you need so little to make so much,” he said.
And Filmmakers Guild of Zambia vice president Chala Tumelo said the guild is ready to work with Government through intervention such as the formation of a positive economic relationship between film makers, advertisers and broadcasters.
Mr. Tumelo also stressed the need for capacity building for broadcasters to acquire local content using more profitable and sustainable models.
Speaking at the same meeting, a local film maker Wycliff Mwamba cited lack of financial support as one of the factors limiting the growth of the country’s film industry.
He said despite having good local content, many filmmakers were failing to make it in the sector due to unavailability of film tailored products on the financial market.
So boss bakateka ain’t you embarrassed that we found that you lied about the road construction? How can we trust you? Would you consider resigning? Muleumfwako insoni sometimes boss, ebuntu.
You messed up this peaceful country with your fellow stealing friends
what does the loser of a president know apart from scratching his b@lls…. scatter teeth, what a w@nker
Lungu took his ministers and jumped on a plane to China to sign a $275 million digital migration agreement , the most expensive in Africa , against advice from media experts …lungu and his gang chewed a 10% commission……..now the Chinese are strangling the media industry by controlling most revenue streams…
By the way , we have not forgotten how we paid for state of the art studios in all provinces, only to be given 5 broadcast trucks ??
This stealing at another level bane…
DON’T YOUR CADRES GO AND BREAK RADIO STATIONS WHEN THEY HEAR THAT AN OPPOSITION IS ON AIR?U HAVE SENT CADRES TO GO AND ATTACK HH ON SO MANY STATIONS.CHIWAMILA GALU KULUMA MBUZI?DORA,IF TRULY ECL HAD A HEART HE SHOULD HAVE FIRED THOSE MINISTERS WHO HAVE BEEN INSULTING TONGAS.MR. NKANDU LUO,YALUMA ETC.IMAGINE,IF TODAY I STAND AND SAY EASTENERS ALOT OF THEM ARE GARDEN BOYS OR MAIDS OR BAKAMBOI.IAM NOT BEING REALISTIC OR OBJECTIVELY.U STARTED IT ALL AND END IT.AND LOOK AT THE CORRUPTION LEVELS WHERE IT HAS REACHED!!!!RIFF RAFFS LIKE THIS HEADLESSS LUSAMBO CAN STAND AND TALK LIKE THAT AND U ARE ALL QUIET. IT ALL STARTS IN YOUR OWN HOUSE.
This is excellent news. Development in other areas does not stop just because we have a pandemic. In fact the arts sector has been heavily affected because it is linked to the hospitality sector. Therefore social distancing has meant that this sector has come to a halt. Good work ba minister. Now I throw it to the angry upnd thugs, tell us your plans for the arts ??
KZ talk about ECL messed up fake road construction picture from Nigeria cheating that it is the one being done in Zambia, insoni ebuntu. What an embarrassment to the world. He even has the brains to apologies after people have found out, shame. Police bicycles apology, Fake road apology, load shading apology, PF gassers killed people apology, tell your party to open Prime TV, Let your Party pay retirees, let your party listen to the people of Zambia not themselves. What advise do you give to PF, than always supporting them with fake road pics for another country? Give good advise than supporting things that you know for sure that they are wrong. Have a good day my young man. You have brains but the problem is you twist things in the wrong direction. Zambia is in a mess. Today you think of…
He is always alive, that we know because we haven’t heard otherwise.
The numerous challenges hampering the growth of the creative arts industry in the country include lack of freedom of expression. Ask Pilato
He who pays the piper dictates the tune.
The K30 million being offered to musicians is a bribe to keep them in line. You will not bite the finger of the hand that is feeding you.
Whenever the artists services are required they will have be on call any time to do artist work in praise of the PF.
Mobutu seseko used that tactic from the 60s til the 90s when he lost power.
Congolese music had political patronage from mobutu, no Congolese musician of that time when mobutu was in office ever wrote a song to criticise the government. Despite mobutu being the sole candidate in all elections, musicians were asked to compose songs in praise of mobutu (candidat na biso TP OK JAZZ BAND).
So whoever wants to keep his artist freedom, leave the K30million kwacha alone.
Pay retirees
Was he reported dead?
PF and Lungu really know how to deliver on the promises! 30 million kwacha for more jobs for our youth. Learn something from them, HH, instead of inciting them, do something for them. #LunguForYouth
This is what a true government looks like, while the artists are busy mocking the government and our True President, they have announced a whopping fund of 30 million kwacha for the revival of the creative arts! Stop your politics, Bflow and Pilato, you are going to get nowhere with this attitude!
A masterstroke by Lungu, Siliya and the PF! India and South Korea have built a name for their creative arts industry because of some momentous initiatives such as this.. We all know our youth is talented all they want is the much-needed push! And you, Madam Siliya and our True President Edgar Chagwa Lungu have finally given that! God Bless You! #GodBlessPF
First electrification of our villages, then providing e-learning to our children, now generating jobs for our young sons and daughters, way to go PF, you truly our the best Zambia could ever produce! We are proud of you, President Lungu!
Chellah Tukuta, the false claimant of freedom of expression, you are a snake, you don’t even know how to treat a woman, your work is nonsense and you have a reputation of creating mounds out of molehills. The government did a right thing by arresting you, your true place is behind bars, you woman-accuser! #RotInJailTukuta
this is what leadership looks like! some youngsters and politicians ,You mocked our lady ministers, body-shamed , disrespected and made fun publicly, some made songs about the leadership
and added oil to the Youth Revolution Inferno created by your unfaithful master, Hakainde Hichilema but the government has put all of this behind them and strive to work for bettering the nation and enhancing the qualities of our lives! #ZambiaRespectsPF
30 million kwacha is a huge sum and a start for something phenomenal, the meeting chaired by Madam Siliya has assured us that the future of our country is in very safe hands, They know better than any one of us about our welfare. They will give us jobs, education, health, dignity! #LunguIsGold