Artists encouraged to embrace technology: Temba Chirifuko

By Thomas Faranando

Artists have been encouraged to embrace technology so as to market their works globally.

In a telephone interview, filmmaker, promotor Cllr Temba Chirifuko said artists should be innovative through the use of the computer power to  access effective networks to market their arts business, inorder to prosper.

“Most artists in the country are reluctant to change and do not have confidence in using computers, that`s why there are some artists shunning the idea of adopting ICTs,” Temba said.

Engineer Walter Chipadza said it is important for artists to have ICT knowledge and capacitated with ICT marketing tools so that they can be able to sell their works locally, regionally, as well as internationally.

"An ICT literate artist is innovative and can sell his or her works to a larger audience, that is why we are advocating for the adoption of ICTS," he added.

National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Mashonaland west province through their youthful and energetic management also encouraged the artists to take advantage of technology to maximize their earnings.

Mash west provincial manager, Lerato Lorraine Ndlovu also encouraged all artists in the province to register their institutions as required by Law.

"National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) was established by an act of Parliament in 1985 to foster, develop and improve the knowledge, understanding and practice of the arts and their presentation, performance, execution and exhibition to the public," she explained.

The 2015 report on the Zimbabwe information and communication technology policy highlighted that there is a shortage of ICT skilled manpower to roll out programs, to promote its use. The shortage has a negative effect on the digital literacy hence the need to capacitate artists with ICT knowledge.

The government of Zimbabwe signaled its commitment by setting up community information centers both in rural and urban areas so as to provide connectivity in all Communities in the process of promoting computer literacy in the country.