Gringo scriptwriter working on film adaptation called 'Gringo Chikwambo Chiya Chadzoka'

Lazarus Boora 'Gringo' and Enock Chihombori "Tobby'  

PROLIFIC scriptwriter and actor Enock Chihombori famed for writing the popular television drama series "Gringo" says he almost quit acting because the industry was not rewarding. Chihombori made the revelation recently following his visit to Zimbabwe from his base in the small mining town of Selebi Phikwe in Botswana where he relocated in 2008. "I almost gave up on dramas because they were not rewarding. The actors were not getting their dues and we were not surviving out of our industry. It was during that time when the industry was almost on its knees because of financial challenges.

"Yes, once in a while someone would produce something worthwhile. "Unlike in the 1980s when most local movies were donor-funded, we struggled to produce films and dramas because of lack of financial resources and it was that period when the country witnessed an influx of Nigerian movies," Chihombori said. The artiste - who also starred as Toby in the drama series "Gringo" - said he then decided to relocate to Botswana in pursuit of better fortunes.

"I then decided to look for greener pastures elsewhere because of the constraints I was facing. People think it is easy to wake up one day and come up with a production. But what it requires is funding for the crew and cast while donors are also hard to come by because when they put their money into a project, they want to see the returns," he said. It is that development that saw Chihombori hanging up his pen and dust up his mechanical engineering diploma which he acquired in 1997 and moved to Botswana where he works for a company called BCL Engineering.

But the call for the arts was stronger and Chihombori decided to hook up with other partners in the form of Alternatives Incorporated Media Services, Nextpage Concepts and popular actor and film director Ben Mahaka who starred as Tom Mbambo in the local soap, Studio 263, late last year. With these partners, Chihombori has started working on a film adaptation of the comedy titled "Gringo - Chikwambo Chiya Chadzoka".

"Although we almost gave up, we realised that we could not let talent just lie idle. This is the time for the Zimbabwean film industry to wake up from its deep slumber hence the decision to rope in new partners although we still need more donor assistance for the industry to fully blossom and match international standards. "I was also putting together some resources in Botswana and all is now set for a new production whose shooting has commenced," Chihombori said.

He also called upon authorities to put in place stiff measures to deal with piracy that is affecting the industry.

"Little is being done for the film industry in Zimbabwe."It is not well recognised because those who are pushing for recognition are doing it for music at the expense of other genres like film. "Piracy is also affecting us and we are reaping little from our sweat. 

It is very expensive to produce a film, pay the actors and crew, premiere it, run it in cinemas and carry out other promotional activities which cost a lot. "But someone just comes from nowhere and pirates the film and earns money from my work. Laws should be put in place to deal with these people," he said.The Nama award winner for Best Scriptwriter in 2001 and 2002 also created the Gringo cartoons for Kwayedza, Zimpapers' Shona newspaper. He was born on June 5, 1961 in Lusaka, Zambia. (Herald)