Film industry needs improvement

THE government through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting should put measures in place so that the film industry is improved.

If the film industry is improved it can help the country develop in terms of gross domestic product. This industry can also create a lot of jobs. It can create jobs for cameramen, actors, executive producers, producers, script writers etc.

What we need to know is that the film industry is second to agriculture in terms of GDP in the United States of America. They have made it big. The industry has created a lot of stars with Hollywood being the hub. This is the same thing our friends in Nigeria have done.

Today, Nigeria is doing fine, they have actors who can compete on the international scene. Nigeria can also boast of Nollyood.

Zambia too can do better in the film industry. This nation has a very rich history to tell locally and abroad.

We had very good actors like Edwin Manda, Moddy Mupunise, Mumba Kapumpa, Lawrence Thompson, Greg Lungu, Maximo Chanda Mwale, Malama Mfumu, Davie Kanengoki, Joseph Kabwe and Kapotwe.

These were actors who were not only acting to show their talent locally, but to the world at large.

Even this time we can do it if there is proper planning. There is a lot of untapped talent especially in our compounds. As Zambians we need to be patriotic for this industry to grow and create jobs and more wealth for our country. It’s high time we put Zambia on the world map.

What I know is it can take time for us to reach the level of Nigeria, Ghana and the US. This generation has produced quite a good number of actors. We can talk of Mwine Mushi, Owas Mwape, Diffikoti, Bikilloni, Obbrey Machiko, Kasaka etc.

There is one man by the name of Edgar Ngoma who has come up with the idea of building a place of acting called Zollywood in Makeni Area. This man has passion for the industry. He needs support.

What I’m suggesting is for the Ministries of Information, Tourism and Arts and the National Art Council to come up with a plan of investing more in this industry for it to grow.

The film industry can even help rebrand the image of our national broadcaster ZNBC. ZNBC can attract a lot of viewers like it was in the past.

Zambians would like to watch good movies like Kabanana, Shi maini, Loose ends, What a life, Mr. and Mrs. and many more. For this industry to grow, the government should involve the corporate world and other stakeholders.