By CHUSA  SICHONE –

THE Zambia Association of Musicians (ZAM) has challenged presidential aspirants to inform the nation how they will help develop the arts industry once they are voted into office.

Speaking at the send off ceremony for late artiste Brian Cheengwa popularly known as P Jay at the Lusaka Playhouse, ZAM president Njoya Tembo said it was disheartening that politicians were using musicians to campaign for them without stating what they would do for the arts industry.

“Our association is run by musicians themselves using our own money and right now the industry is not a very good place to say we have so much money. We may have big names but our big names are not corresponding with our pockets.

“We believe that today politicians are running around campaigning in the company of musicians, for how long? And it is very heartbreaking that politicians haven’t made any single pronouncements to do with the arts in Zambia,” he said.

Mr Tembo said politicians had based their campaigns on agriculture, mining, among other sectors, except the arts.
He, therefore, asked presidential candidates to make their positions known on what they would do to improve the arts sector in Zambia once they were in State House.

“We have heard them (politicians) talk about farmers, we have heard them talk about mines, we have heard them talk about any other thing apart from arts,” he said.

“All those that are aspiring for Plot One should make serious pronouncements on how they are going to develop this industry,” Mr Tembo said.
He described Kabwata Member of Parliament Given Lubinda as an “all weather friend” to the industry as he had been speaking for the artists in Parliament as did Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Wylbur Simuusa but that more voices were needed.

Mr Lubinda said he had assured the artists before late President Michael Sata introduced Arts to the Ministry of Tourism and was assuring them again that Mr Lungu would also endeavour to move the industry to greater heights.

Mr Lubinda said a few years ago he successfully moved a motion in Parliament to remove duty on pieces of art, adding that next year another motion would be tabled in the House to remove duty on all musical equipment for at least three years.

“More than 500,000 Zambians live out of one form of art or another. It is therefore a very important sector that requires Government attention and I want to assure all of you musicians that your Government is aware of this and your Government will pay attention to it,” he said.

Ministry of Tourism and Arts chief culture affairs officer Thomas Mubita said his Ministry was saddened and felt the impact of losing artists as that negatively affected the growth of the industry.