The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube
Entertainment Correspondent
A COLLABORATIVE project between Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Zambia titled Comrade, will on Saturday be beamed on a big screen at Courtauld Theatre, headlining the Independence Movie Night.
The movie night, which is a collaboration of Mabvazuva Creative Hub and Eastlife Entertainment, is part of the organisers’ artistic inventory to celebrate the country’s 44 years of independence.
Since independence, the arts and culture industry has grown in leaps and bounds as evidenced by the production of, among others, informative and captivating visual productions such as Comrade.
The project is like the incarnation of the liberation struggle.
Stephen Mutsago, who created the film believes the beaming of the film is timely as it is meant to celebrate the life of gallant liberation war fighters.
“We are looking forward to having an emotional, yet beautiful night as we celebrate our heroes. The movie carries a lot of historical significance, and the live beaming acts a reminder to movie enthusiasts of how special and privileged it is to live a peaceful life in a free Zimbabwe.
“The main idea is to celebrate the life of liberation war veterans. They are still able to build and defend our societies. Their ideas and expertise is still of great importance, both in politics and socio-economic activities. With the film, Comrade, we are celebrating these heroes and heroines, both living and fallen,” said Mutsago.
The event starts at 6pm. Music and dance performances will also be part of the event.
Decades after the protracted liberation war, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique have remained all-weather friends.
Relations between the three countries have been fruitful since time immemorial.
Mozambique, even after attaining its own independence in June 1975, stood with Zimbabwe to break the shackles of colonial rule.
The neighbouring country welcomed and accommodated Zimbabwean liberation war cadres during their hour of needy.
The three countries therefore have a shared history, and their camaraderie has encroached into the arts industry.
The intriguing movie, which was shot in Kwesha Village, Honde Valley, depicts themes of love, betrayal and perseverance.
The film celebrates heroes and heroines, both living and fallen.
It also looks at the post-traumatic experiences encountered by liberation fighters who fought and survived during the wars of independence for the three countries.
Mutsago, a police officer by profession, has a decorated life in the film industry and has produced feature and short films such as Ngozi, Vicious Circle, Lobengula the Godfather as well as a series, Smoking Gun, which was aired on local television station, ZBC.
The movie was co-directed by Abel Silungwe from Zambia; while locals, Pretty Mutsago, Charity Siziba and Felix Machingambi also featured in the movie.
