Cont Mhlanga attacks Matabeleland Ministers

RENOWED playwright and artist Continueloving Mhlanga of Amakhosi Township Square in Bulawayo has lambasted Cabinet Ministers from Matabeleland region accusing them of having a hand in marginalizing the arts sector.

In an interview, Umalume - as Mhlanga is affectionately called in the arts sector said, "I used to think that the marginalization of arts and culture was perpetrated by people from Bambazonke (Harare).

"Now I have come to realize that even ministers from this region (kithi khona) are not better.

"The arts and culture has continued to suffer from neglect and the description of our predicament by Oliver Mutukuzi is true," he said.

Mutukuzi once said the problem faced with the arts and culture was the attitude problem.

Mhlanga picked up Senator David Coltart as one minister who has done a disservice for Matabeleland saying, "For the record Minister Coltart went to China and was given some arts instruments that he gave to an upper class institution that is patronized by whites.

"We thought he was going to give the instruments to an institution that nurtures talent from the poor, to the people who cannot afford to buy guitars for themselves but he did just the opposite and that clearly shows the attitude problem and the levels of marginalization that we in the arts and culture industry continue to be subjected to," said Mhlanga.

Senator Coltart is the minister of Education, Sports and Culture and belongs to the Movement for Democratic Change formation led by Professor Welshman Ncube.

In a veiled attack at Finance Minister Tendai Biti, the Nansi LeNdoda author said, "Whether it is Treasury or our won ministry we don't know but the bottom line is that there is no representation," said Mhlanga whose Amakhosi is situated in the squalid Makokoba Township and has produced some of the country's finest artists.