Malawi censorship: Manganya suspends ‘Moto Wachilendo’ play
Actor Michael Usi, popularly known as Manganya has suspended his new play ‘Moto Wachilendo’ which was launched last Sunday in Blantyre before a sold-out crowd,
Nyasa Times has learnt that Usi has also suspended some actors from the 14-member-crew who are suspected to have sabotaged the play during its first launch at Robin’s Park.
Moto Wachilendo failed to live up to its billing as there were flaws, leaving the audience which came out in large numbers disappointed.
A source close to the actor collaborated to Nyasa Times that the renowned playwright was equally left frustrated following the development, which has prompted him to suspend the play and the whole crew.
Manganya has suspended all the actors pending investigations as to what happened. It is believed there was sabotage because some actors brought in their own scenes.
“Surprisingly there was a new version to the play, it was not what everyone had rehearsed,” said one of the actors who chose to remain anonymous.
When contacted to confirm if he had suspended the play and the actors, the dramatist said he would not take Moto Wachilendo to Lilongwe until further notice.
He however could not confirm whether he had suspended the crew, saying “we are doing investigations on the matter.”
Manganya however said the play a “full satire.”
Moto Wachilendo is exploring Malawi’s political journey from the Malawi Congress Party era to the current People’s Party-led regime.
The two-hour act pulls out poverty as the common denominator in all the regimes.
But Manganya received pressure from the National Censorship Board to modify the play at the 11th hour because the censors were uncomfortable with scenes that were directly referring to the ruling elite.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
