Mzuni launches movie on HIV and Aids
Mzuzu University (Mzuni) on Friday launched an edutainment movie Alufeyo which addresses issues of HIV and Aids among the youth in institutions of higher learning.
The movie, running for approximately two hours, is a sad story centred around a young man, Alufeyo, who despite having a humble background gets into trouble after enrolling at a university.
Through Alufeyo, a role taken by a fourth year student Alinafe Dzanja, the movie depicts the effects of peer pressure, drunkenness and recklessness at a university or college campus, specifically highlighting how HIV and Aids can and does affect students.
The movie is part of the one year K11 million HIV and Aids project Mzuni’s department of Languages and Literature is implementing with support from the National Aids Commission (NAC).
Speaking in an interview after premiering the movie at the fully-packed Mzuni Hall, English lecturer Misheck Banda, who also wrote the script, said the movie will be used as a tool for social change.
“It all begun with this general feeling that most young people mess up when they enrol in colleges or universities. It’s not that they want to but the situation forces them.
“We therefore made a situation analysis about the problem and put up a proposal for funding to address this,” he said.
Banda said the movie will be used to orient first year students in all colleges and universities in the country about HIV and Aids.
The movie has been set at Mzuni, Kasungu, the shores of Lake Malawi in Nkhata Bay and other parts of Mzuzu City.
The cast comprises individuals from all sections of the Mzuni such as students, academic and non-academic staff and the alumni.
Banda said the movie will be broadcast in series on MBC TV who, he said, have been offered broadcasting rights.
“We are planning to start shooting Alufeyo part two to sustain the project,” he said.
Commenting about the movie, Mzuni deputy vice chancellor Dr Loveness Kaunda described it as “an eye-opener for the university to consider offering bachelor degrees in film and media studies.”
She said: “I never expected that they would shoot such a professional movie. I thought maybe it would be one those movies. But this one can stand at any movie screening shows. As a university, we should think of introducing degree courses now that we have the talent.”
