The recent announcement of the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) nominees has been met with criticism, with some prominent figures in the Zimbabwean arts scene questioning the integrity of the selection process.
Zimcelebs founder and music promoter, Tafadzwa Rusike Gondo, known as Uncle Munhumutapa, strongly criticised the nominations, calling them a "joke."
"National Arts Merit Awards your awards are now a joke. One of these years we are going to come up with awards and host them on the same day as you, and make you redundant," he said.
"How do you leave out Chipaz Promotions and Rich and Famous in the best promoter category.
"On the social media skit category you left out the likes of Chief Ben, Allan Skits, Comic Elder and Frets Donzvo."
Uncle Munhumutapa questioned Nash TV's nomination, considering they are a sponsor and partner of the awards, and described Nash TV as a page that primarily publishes jokes.
"How can Nash TV be nominated for Best Promoter when they are just a social media page that publishes jokes? The shows they promoted were for their own two artists. Furthermore, why is a sponsor (Nash TV) being nominated? This is a clear conflict of interest.
Additionally, how can there be a Best Female category without Feli Nandi, who hosted sold-out solo shows throughout last year? How could they also leave out Holy Ten after all he accomplished this year, along with The Ndebele Prince Calvin Mangena and the hit track Ndiudze Zvese Remix," he said.
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Bustop TV founder and director Lucky Aaroni questioned the adjudicators' credibility and advocated for a change, in a letter addressed to the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe's director, Napoleon Nyanhi.
"Dear director Napoleon Nyanhi, a year ago, some of us wanted to write to Nama and NACZ to suggest that Nama should change its judges,"he said.
"Having our friends and peers judge us at Nama is, in my opinion, not a good idea. We work with some of them, while others are our competitors, and we even criticise the judges' work within our circles, yet we are expected to receive fair judgment from the same people.
"I believe you should look for seasoned professionals like Danai Gurira, Tongai Chirisa, and Chipo Chung, among others. They have experience and have worked at a higher level, giving them a level of credibility."
