Artists, Scholars Resist Proposed Leasing of Gweru Theatre
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Gweru – Artists, cultural administrators and academics in Gweru have disapproved reports that the Gweru City Council intends to lease the city’s historic theatre to a well-known local businessman.
The proposal has been condemned as regressive, with critics arguing that it undermines national efforts to strengthen the arts sector and provide vital recreational spaces for communities.
The outrage emerged during a consultative meeting at the Gweru Memorial Library, organized by veteran writer and filmmaker Aaron Chiundura Moyo through his initiative, Creative Voices for Policy Engagement (CVPE).
Midlands State University lecturer and theatre practitioner, Muchineripi Gwarinda, voiced sharp criticism, linking the erosion of recreational facilities to the alarming rise in youth drug abuse.
He further questioned the ethics of the council’s decisions, noting that while religious groups can easily book the venue, artists face significant barriers.
“Citizens must remember that this theatre was built with their own contributions to nurture arts and culture.
Today, that vision is being hijacked for church services. Is this ethical? Is it even legal?” he asked.
The frustration stands in contrast to President Mnangagwa’s national campaign against drug abuse and his stated commitment to the arts.
The President recently launched a National Drug Abuse Fund, emphasizing rehabilitation centers and positioning the arts as a cornerstone of national development and economic growth.
Other initiatives include declaring Bulawayo the National Cultural Capital and pledging increased budgetary support for indigenous content through the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ).Yet, the deteriorating state of Gweru Theatre appears to contradict these national priorities.
Provincial Arts Officer in the Ministry of Arts, Sports, and Recreation, Reward Shockson, expressed dismay at the council’s direction.
“This theatre was meant to serve artists, but the council has lost sight of that mission,” he said.
Shockson also questioned the use of rental income from churches, pointing out the venue’s dire condition.
There are no lights, the chairs are broken, and exposed nails pose a risk of tetanus,” he said.
Echoing this concern, Kumbirai Farai Kupfavira, National Arts Coumcil of Zimbabwe (NACZ) Provincial Arts Manager, criticized the shunning of artists in using the available facilities.
Meanwhile, Siphosami Ndlovu, leader of the Hodzeko Arts and Culture Association, recalled a once-promising collaboration with the council through a memorandum of understanding but plans for a joint exhibition featuring 20 artists were abruptly abandoned when the theatre was reclassified as a space reserved for “business people who can generate revenue.”
The frustration deepened when Jesca Makuyana from the Gweru Council Housing Department delivered what participants described as a superficial presentation, claiming the council was working “hand in glove” with artists.
Many attendees felt misled by this statement.The meeting, moderated by University of Zimbabwe lecturer and acclaimed author Dr. Memory Chirere, was supported by CreativeACTIONs2, a program funded by the European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe.
