DAY 11 : On Turning a Dilapidated Footbridge into a Cultural Success (report)
by Tafadzwa Muzondo, at Machipisa Foot Bridge in Highfield, Harare, Zimbabwe, 23 June 2017
Field Appreciation of Bridge Inspiration in Theatre Pa Bridge project Implementation
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Theatre PA Bridge field visit, organised EDZAI ISU Trust as part of the Age of Wonderland 100 Days of learning project, was a resounding success with up to 50 stakeholders (representatives of the community, local authorities, private, governmental, non-governmental and international organisations) getting a first-hand experience of the background, progress, impact and activities Theatre PA Bridge at Machipisa footbridge in Highfield on the 23rd of June 2017.
The programme of the day included a tour of the bridge, a screening of a 20 minute documentary on the project from conception to implementation and promotion complemented by a conversation with the founder of both Theatre PA Bridge and EDZAI ISU Trust Tafadzwa Muzondo on the bridge inspiration in the Theatre PaBridge project as well as a discussion on the past the present and future of Theatre PA Bridge
There were also remarks from community and stakeholder representatives who included Cairns Foods Chief Executive Officer Mrs Nancy Guzha who gave the project a heads up as something worth the support of the private sector, Jungle Boys (local dance group) leader Takunda Chingolombe who spoke on how the bridge has offered opportunity for their creativity and Murisi Musekiwa, representing ward 25 councillor (Mukunguma) who applauded the initiative by the Highfield based transformative arts organisation (EDZAI ISU Trust).
The guest of honour, Highfield East parliamentarian Mr Erick Murayi was also impressed by this kind innovation which provided a community solution to a near disaster pledging to support this and other community development initiatives in his constituency so that they get national and international recognition.
The over 50 participants included representatives from the Ministry of Youth, Civil Protection Unit, Harare City Council (Waste management and Parks sections), Zimbabwe Republic Police — Machipisa Police Station, University of Zimbabwe — Theatre Arts Department, Let’s Do It (Zimbabwe), International Theatre Institute (Zimbabwe), Development Reality Institute (Zimbabwe), HIVOS, US Embassy Public Affairs Section, Vendors Initiative for Socio Economic Transformation, Zimbabwe United States Allumni Association, Highfield Recreational Development, Highfield Environment Management Trust, Together As One, Youth Forum of Zimbabwe, Clowns & Comedians Association of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations — ZACRAS, Eternal Life College, Zimbabwe Young Women’s Network for Peace and Life Empowerment Support Organization, not forgetting community members, journalists and artists.
Theatre PA Bridge, the brainchild of Tafadzwa Muzondo, is a community arts space made out of the cleaning up of the formerly disused Machipisa footbridge (on the Main Street of Highfield in Harare, Zimbabwe) which had become a social outcast and environmental hazard before its clean-up by EDZAI ISU Trust with support from Africalia Belgium. The field appreciation was part of the Age of Wonderland 100 Days of Learning project.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ymUs1UXtLc&feature=youtu.be
BACKGROUND
The Machipisa Bridge was completed in 1998 as a partnership between the City of Harare and Delta Corporation. Despite being a wonderful structure, the Bridge had never been fully utilized and had subsequently become a health, environmental and social hazard in the communityliterally becoming an unofficial public toilet and dumping site.
EDZAI ISU then undertook the civic responsibility to clean up and re-claim the defunct bridge by converting the space into a functional and vibrant community arts venue while maintaining the original purpose of it being a footbridge thus give people a creative incentive to use the bridge not abuse it like had become the case.
In the past four months EDZAI ISU has consistently provided free family friendly arts programming at the Bridge every Friday and Saturday afternoon featuring dance, music, theatre, poetry and comedy. The project has been very well received and has had social and economic benefits for local arts talent as well as the community at large.
Theatre PA Bridge is founded by Tafadzwa Muzondo and has so far hosted established Zimbabwen artists like Albert Nyathi, Kireni Zulu, Tryson Chimbetu, Progress Chipfumo, Edith WeUtonga, Douglas Chimbetu, Franco Slomo, Jiggaz and Talking Guitars among the many other local talents not to mention an international band Sa Roy & The Forest Jam Band (made up of Madagascar, Switzerland and South African artists) courtesy of Harare International Festival of the Arts — HIFA 2017.
PROGRAM OF THE DAY
09:50AM — 10:15AM ARRIVAL OF GUESTS
10:15AM — 10:30AM INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS AND SCOPE OF FIELD VISIT
10:30AM — 11:00AM BRIDGE TOUR AND EXPLANATIONS
11:00PM –11:05PM REMARKS BY A LOCAL STAKEHOLDER — JUNGLE BOYS LEADER (TAKENDA CHINGOLOMBE
11:05AM — 11:10AM SCREENING OF THEATRE PA BRIDGE DOCUMENTARY
11:10AM-11:30AM CONVERSATION WITH EDZAI ISU FOUNDER
TAFADZWA MUZONDO
11:30AM — 11:35PM REMARKS BY REPRESENTATIVE (MURISI MUSEKIWA) OF WARD 25 COUNCILLOR
11:35PM — 11:40PM REMARKS BY MRS NANCY GUZHA (CAIRNS CEO)
11:55PM-12:10PM GUEST REMARKS BY HIGHFIELD EAST MP HONORABLE ERICK MURAYI
12.10PM — 12.15PM VOTE OF THANKS
12.15PM — 12.30PM WATCHING OF PERFORMANCES AT THE BRIDGE AND DEPARTURE
