Logos Theatre premieres cashgate play, the Verdict

Infamous Capitol Hill looting of public funds christened as Cashgate scandal might have made headlines in the media but theatre devotees will be accorded a rare opportunity to experience display of replicated episodes in a stage play, Verdict by Logos Theatre.

The Blantyre-based English theatre group, is expected to premiere the play on Friday evening February 14th (Valentine’s Day) at Nanzikambe Arts Cafe’ in Naperi before taking it to central region particularly Kasungu and northern region.

The Verdict is a three-man play written and directed by the group’s director, Lewis Thembachako Masamba, and it centralized in a prison ward where main character, Zatha Biliati-played by Isaac Bonongwe- a government accounts clerk is remanded waiting for his verdict on looting of tax-payers’ money.

Zatha Biliati is in prison after being convicted on corruption and money laundering charges but his case is taking long to conclude following implication of top-government officials who are issuing him threats to protect their identities.

Whilst in prison, Zatha meets a criminal named Mutho-role played by Masamba-who becomes his confidant, and he trusts him with all details of how public funds are plundered under cashgate.

The play’s climax is when some of the top-government officials implicated in the scandal start hunting for Zatha and his relations including those who have privilege of knowing the truth about the whole scandal.

The play also features Goldfrey Machika who, just like Masamba, plays double roles as prisoner warden and a faceless unknown man.

“It’s something that people will love and it features elements of issues affecting the society at present,” explained Masamba who revealed the play was already approved by Censorship Board.

Masamba said on Saturday February 15th the play would be staged in Kasungu before taking it to Katoto Secondary School in Mzuzu on Sunday afternoon February 16th and Mzuzu University thereafter.

“We have shows lined up in Lilongwe and Zomba soon after northern region. The play tries to find answers to unsolved issues surrounding the infamous cashgate scandal. All characters in the play are not real despite the theme revolving around current issues,” added Masamba.

Logos will be first country’s theatre grouping to dramatize cashgate scandal through which over K20 billion of public money was stolen by top and junior government officials with several of them currently facing court cases.

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