Tangeni Amupadhi
Namibian artists are outraged over what they call “apartheid-style censorship” rearing its head in their democratic country.
The outrage was sparked by the Namibian government’s decision to withdraw financial support for a popular play scheduled to be staged at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg next week.
The Ministry of Basic Education and Culture wrote to Vickson Hangula, director of the play “The Show Isn’t Over, Until…”, telling him the government would not provide transport for the actors because the satire “spread anti-Swapo and anti-government propaganda”.
Ironically, the ministry chose the play and transported the artists to a Southern African cultural festival in Botswana last month.
The play, which won Namibia’s most prestigious arts award last year, pokes fun at the political situation, nepotism, sexual harassment and government inefficiency, as well as sexual abuse during the liberation struggle.
However, he said it is now clear that Swapo politicians did not watch the play before it went to Botswana.
Minister of Basic Education and Culture John Mutorwa said the government would not pay for transport because “it has no money”.
He said the actors behaved badly in Botswana and this did not augur well for Namibia’s image.
They have approached other people for funding and the play will be staged at the Market Theatre’s Laboratory Community Theatre Festival from May 24 to 30.
The Market Theatre chose the play because it was relevant to Africa.