News / National
Piracy threatens Zimbabwe's football and creative industry
3 hrs ago | 10 Views
Football in Zimbabwe is more than a sport; it is a passion that unites communities locally, regionally, and internationally. Most fans enjoy matches through television, celebrating goals and victories at home or in social viewing settings. Yet, a growing threat is silently undermining this shared enthusiasm: piracy through illicit streaming.
Gerald Ngonyamo, head of corporate affairs at MultiChoice Zimbabwe, warns that the problem is pervasive and expanding. "This threat is real; it's all around us and it is growing, and it's not good for the sport or for the fans," he said.
Some justify using illegal streams due to financial constraints, widespread practice, or perceived absence of strict laws. However, Ngonyamo stresses that piracy is not just about avoiding payment; it fuels a criminal system that destroys jobs, stifles the creative industry, and deters investment.
Broadcasting companies like MultiChoice invest millions in acquiring sports rights and producing local content. These funds support digital security and pay the salaries of presenters, journalists, studio technicians, and producers. When fans turn to pirated streams, they devalue all this effort and compromise the sustainability of both the sport and the industry that surrounds it.
Illicit streaming also carries digital risks, including malicious software and viruses, yet many continue to take these chances in the name of saving money. Piracy's impact extends beyond football to soap operas, series, cartoons, films, news, and other broadcast content.
"Every click on an illegal link is a stab in the back of the cultural and creative industry, an industry that, if strengthened, can employ more people and project our identity to the world," Ngonyamo said. He emphasized the need for greater awareness about the damage piracy causes and urged Zimbabweans to protect the industries that provide the content they love.
"Let's fight piracy together. It benefits no one in the long term and threatens the very foundations of our sport and cultural expression," he concluded.
Gerald Ngonyamo, head of corporate affairs at MultiChoice Zimbabwe, warns that the problem is pervasive and expanding. "This threat is real; it's all around us and it is growing, and it's not good for the sport or for the fans," he said.
Some justify using illegal streams due to financial constraints, widespread practice, or perceived absence of strict laws. However, Ngonyamo stresses that piracy is not just about avoiding payment; it fuels a criminal system that destroys jobs, stifles the creative industry, and deters investment.
Illicit streaming also carries digital risks, including malicious software and viruses, yet many continue to take these chances in the name of saving money. Piracy's impact extends beyond football to soap operas, series, cartoons, films, news, and other broadcast content.
"Every click on an illegal link is a stab in the back of the cultural and creative industry, an industry that, if strengthened, can employ more people and project our identity to the world," Ngonyamo said. He emphasized the need for greater awareness about the damage piracy causes and urged Zimbabweans to protect the industries that provide the content they love.
"Let's fight piracy together. It benefits no one in the long term and threatens the very foundations of our sport and cultural expression," he concluded.
Source - Sunday News
