Will it make a difference now?
Upon his appointment as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife about four years ago, one of Michael Usi’s first assignments was a visit to the sleeping entertainment facility Blantyre Cultural Centre (BCC).
As one would guess, the then minister joined the long chorus of those who have been wailing over the state of the facility. He took on contractors Opco Limited, who were contracted to renovate the amphitheater in 2022 with an initial deadline of the renovation works being January 2023.
By that time the contractor indicated the work done was only 35 percent of the expected.
Fast-forward to July 2023, Richard Chimwendo Banda became the line minister after being appointed Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture. As per tradition, part of his orientation in his new portfolio also took him to BCC.
Unlike Usi, Chimwendo Banda’s reaction on the state of the facility was more scathing. He threatened to terminate the contract with Opco Limited due to the delays in completing the works.
“I am not impressed with what I am seeing as regards the project. The rehabilitation was supposed to take six months from August last year. This is not on,” he said at the time.
On Tuesday, Usi was back at BCC in his new lobe as the country’s vice-president. Just like during the two previous ministerial visits, nothing had moved and changed as regards the rehabilitation of the entertainment facility.
It was the usual lamentations, referencing how the industry is reeling from lack of adequate proper venues and the effect on the society at large.
The visits made by Usi and Chimwendo Banda as line ministers may have inspired hope to an extent. The creative industry players may have hoped that would be the turning point resuscitating the status of the entertainment mecca.
The visit to the place this week, is probably the first from a person of such a higher position in government. But did it birth increased hope? Should people expect this to be the last time the authorities will go to BCC and worry at its status rather anything else?
The expectation that Usi has created following his second tour of the facility is huge. While previously it would be expected of him to be concerned about the status of the place due his artistic background, but the recent visit calls for greater commitment from the government.
The visits to BCC have, in the eyes of others, become a normal expedition, which yield nothing beyond the tough rhetoric. Despite the good images and well-reading quotes that are generated from the visits, their impact have been little.
The tour by the vice-president on Tuesday may be the last call to action for all those involved in the works of rehabilitating the facility. Unless if we should now expect the President himself now to take the rumbling matter up.
Given the foregoing, it is possible that others did not read much in Usi’s latest visit. The expectation within many is to see things get off the ground and head in the required direction. Or is it self to conclude that government has failed to run and maintain the facility? Is it time it went back to a private public ownership?
Usi has unknowingly set himself a task so huge that he needs to complete by all means necessary. It is just about time.
