Funerals are the only gatherings that are allowed under the
latest lockdown that came into effect on Tuesday. A maximum of 30 people are
allowed to gather for a funeral.
Last year, during the lockdown, artistes were recording
their video content at various studios and holding lockdown parties that they
broadcasted online. During these recordings, there was normally a technical
team and a bunch of artistes.
However, according to Bulawayo province police spokesperson
Inspector Abednico Ncube, such gatherings according to law are illegal.
“A gathering according to the law is more than three
people. Even if they are people who are congregated outside, if they are more
than three, they are a gathering and they can be arrested. Only a funeral is
the one that’s exempted and according to the regulations, it should have a
maximum of 30 people, the rest are gatherings,” said Insp Ncube.
He warned people not to be caught on the wrong side of the
law. “Some people hold these recordings in places that they think are secluded,
but as long as it is a gathering, this is illegal and those risk to be arrested
and prosecuted,” said Insp Ncube.
Following the arrest and subsequent conviction of Chillspot
Records duo, DJ Fantan (Arnold Kamudyariwa) and DJ Levelz (Tafadzwa Kadzimwe)
who were both jailed six months for holding a show in Mbare, Harare, when the
country was under lockdown, artistes are now afraid of being found on the wrong
side of the law.
During the lockdown last year, artistes had started to
embrace online shows and some began generating income for them. Platforms such
as Credisi, Gara Mumba Iwe, Nash Tv’s Friday Night Live shows, FMG’s Lockdown
Parties and the like sprouted.
Most recently, gospel artiste Janet Manyowa launched her EP
through a Pay Per View show that was held virtually from the HICC. The Roil
Bulawayo Arts Awards were held online without many people but police on that
night ended up bursting on stage to shut down the show as it had gone past the
agreed time.
It seems with what the police are saying artistes should
stay at home, because holding such productions might land them in the same fate
as DJ Fantan and DJ Levelz. Chronicle
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