By JOWIT SALUSEKI –
THAPEZA theatre club last weekend treated fun-lovers at Lusaka Play House to a play titled Mwaziona.
Centered on a village set up, the gist of the story in this eight cast member play focused on the never ending issue of early marriages. Mwaziona, the lead actress is a 16-year-old ambitious girl who is determined to complete her education at all costs.
However, the Grade Eight pupil (Mwaziona) is supposed to stop school so that she can be married off by her family because of the credit which they owe another family as pride price.
Nonetheless, Mwaziona’s brother (Mtsinje) who is a student from the University of Zambia (UNZA) and a resident of Lusaka comes to her rescue and stops her sister from being married off at a tender age.
Conspicuously, after defying his family members from marrying off young Mwaziona, Mtsinje becomes mad and the accusing finger is pointed at the other family, yet it was his uncle who had bewitched him.
Written by Zondi Moses Mtonga, this theatrical piece presented a moment of soul searching for members of the audience who filled up the Play House.
The play was directed by Chamunorwa Masuka, the young brains behind plays like Shackles of my Land (a play which depicts land wrangles), and Born Out of the Ribs, a National Arts Theatre Association of Zambia (NATAAZ) nomination.
