As we reported in March (following the article posted by Max Dana), then in May, Owen Maseko was arrested on 26 March after participating in a show at the Bulawayo National Art Gallery, which depicted atrocities that took place in the Matabeleland region, known as Gukuruhundi, in western Zimbabwe during the 1980s where thousands of people were killed, mainly by state security agents. Five months later, the Zimbabwean government has officially banned the work of Owen Maseko…

Here is what we can read on The Herald website, Zimbabwe’s state-controlled media (read post):

Early this year, Maseko attempted to exhibit his works deemed to be offensive at the Bulawayo Art Gallery before he was arrested. In a Government Gazette published yesterday, Secretary for Home Affairs Mr Melusi Matshiya said it was an offence in terms of the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act (Cinematography and Publications, Production of Pictures and Statutes) for anyone to show the material. Mr Matshiya said the Board of Censors had in terms of Section 12(1) and (2), 13(1) and (2), and 14(3) of the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act declared as prohibited the showing of DVD clips with effigies, words and paintings on the walls of the Bulawayo National Art Gallery by Owen Maseko.

This morning we received an email from Josh Nyapimbi (Bulawayo Arts Forum -BAF, director of Nhimbe), and according to their legal advisers, this ruling contravenes the Zimbabwean constitution and can be contested in court. The Bulawayo Arts Forum (BAF) would like to contest this decision and is appealing for funding to cover administrative and legal fees.

This ban is censorship, purely and simply. We suggest you to read the article posted on Sokwanele and also on VoA News Website for more information. Just like said in the post published on Sokwanele: “I find it disappointing that the inclusive government is ‘offended’ by art works – paintings on a wall –  and seemingly less offended by the truth depicted in the images: torture, violence and the despair of mothers and the elderly over the murders of their families. It is this truth that deeply offends me!”

Once again, spread the word about this censorship and support free expression. As always, you can count on us to closely follow this affair on the Sama Gazette!