COVID-19: Zim artists to benefit from govt relief grant

The announcement follows last week’s ban on public gatherings by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The grant application closed on 7 April and funds will be channelled to the beneficiaries via local cellular network provider NetOne’s One Money wallet facility.

“The grants are being managed by the social welfare [ministry] and they are not a huge amount of money as some might want to think,” NACZ director Nicholas Moyo told The Herald. “Therefore, the call is for those artists who are so desperate, in need and have been affected during this lockdown process.

“It is a stocktake relief by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, whom we are working with. We are still currently assessing the situation and trying by all means to assist the arts sector.”

Moyo said artists who applied for the COVID-19 relief grant had to have a registered organisation. “Their name should have passed through social groups first,” he said, adding that a limited timeline for applications was instated because the grants would take long to process and should be disbursed to artists during the 21 days of lockdown.

“Artists’ names will have to pass through a thorough vetting process. Those who know our offices have travelled to submit their name, while those who failed because of security reasons have submitted their names through our WhatsApp platform. We are trying our best to help the arts sector,” Moyo said.