By Tendai Chisiri
Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating International Day of Solidarity with the Palestine people in Harare o” n 29 November and a play titled Chindunduma in vernacular meaning struggle in English from Chenuka Trust Theatre scintillating the gathering.
People of Palestine have not been recognised as citizens since 1948 whilst a neighbouring state was declared an independent state. This has lead Israel, the neighbouring state to continue occupying their land leaving their land dwindling.
Although the play is interesting due to the way the actors act, it is a sad real story about the genocide happening in Palestine since 1948. It leaves one saddened and in sympathy of the Palestine community as the gruesome events are highlighted.
Palestine people are depicted as scofflaw and Chenuka Trust in their play Chindunduma/Struggle are at pains to paint and portray that it is not a Palestine conflict but a genocide as the other has strong allies beside it.
The play starts with a soldier on drills with background voice chanting “1948 till now” This shows that Israel soldiers had alredy started occupying Palestine since 1948 as their movements could be seen in the area. The soldier is commanded through background voices chanting “left right, left right, right turn”, painting and portraying the motive to destroy Palestine people. The soldier says he holds an olive branch in one hand a a fun in another hand. Olive branch signifies new beginning as Israel sees Palestine as theirs.
After the Israel soldier, on stage comes an actor saying he is a young footballer with a passion to play soccer to great heights. Unfortunately the young footballer dies without having played for his beloved country Palestine. The football player highlights the need for Palestine to be recognised as a country so they can associate with other countries peacefully without being bombarded by Israel. It also shows that Palestine people are victims of circumstances as their children live in fear. The young footballer died from bombs being dropped in the streets they were playing.
“I tried waking them up but they didn’t get up. I like soccer. One day I was in the street and I was playing soccer, was running dribbling and no one could catch me and I was near the goals and then I was shot. I knew I was playing soccer and was shot. I think I was playing soccer and was shot”, said the actor who acted for Assan Araft’s spirit.
From the act, one can see that Arafat is now a spirit it is said to have happened on 15 November 2023. An actress comes on stage and acts like a commentator describing Arafat’s soccer prowess in the field. Her voice is just like any commentator commenting soccer on television. The audience hear how Arafat managed to dribble past his opponents. When Arafat scores, the actress and the audience begin to chant Palestine repeatedly in support of the young footballer’s national team.
The play also reveals that most many journalists are one sided, they don’t do factual reporting and are one sided.” These journalists come all the way to film a conflict, a war but how can it be a war when it is one sided, it is only a war when two sides fight. If one is shooting innocent people that is not war, it is genocide. They come taking pictures on us”.
“They even have awards, what are these awards for? Oscar Awards Best Documentary of the topic on Palestine conflict. You Tube Gold of having million viewers on the Palestine conflict and New York Times Best Commentator on the topics for Palestine conflict”, the actress said. ” “It is not a conflict, it is a genocide”, they artists said in unison.
An actress came on stage and said she respects those countries that are not silent to Israel. She lambasted those that discredit the freedom of Palestine. She said even when she plays and get wounds. She tries by all means to return to her mom nomatter how much the pain would be. The wound may also symbolise that even if she gets hungry, she will never beg from Israel people.
The genocide happening in Palestine is also portrayed through the number of armed soldiers invading and the amount of weapons being used ranging from rockets to atomic bombs. Althiught United Nations should safeguard Palestine, in the play it is described as a rootless bulldog or an organisation united in remaining silent about the genocide transpiring in Palestine.
Israel had its own representative who accused Palestine people of just sitting on rocks doing nothing. The actor said he will give them the freedom if they want it on two options. ” You die or you die. Choose one option “, he said. Thusly send the audience in laughter as he has no two options but one directive.
The play ends with a song as the sympathise with Palestine people. This is a must to watch.
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