The Team Zimbabwe

In partnership with local artists and producers, SFCG has produced a 13-part television and radio series of The Team, which tackles some of the societal issues in Zimbabwe today, such as ethnic and socio-economic differences, intergenerational relations, gender equality and the power dynamics between young men and women, and the importance of unity and working together to succeed at the individual, family, community and national levels.
The television series, with a 100% local cast and crew and directed by a Rumbi Katedza, a Zimbabwean woman, is broadcast on ZBC-TV 1 on Friday evenings at 19:30. (7:30pm)

Synopsis

To order, click here: English $60.00 USD

In a run-down, mining town in Zimbabwe, two young men from different backgrounds meet. Although they have little money, they have plenty of energy and dreams.

The smooth talking, handsome, Pablo is a natural footballer, and is the local hero of every young kid in his neighborhood. His single mother is a cross-border trader, who wants Pablo to get a job rather than play football.

Beans is the oldest of eight children, a good student who wants to get out of poverty through education. However, his father expects him to take care of his younger siblings and work on behalf of the family. He sends Beans and his sister Lindi to town to collect rent from the lodgers on their property.

When a big city team comes to town to hold a scouting contest, Pablo schemes to put together a team, no matter what it takes, so he can finally get the shot he deserves. He cons Beans into joining him in the scheme. By sheer nerve, they convince a down and out former superstar player with a dark secret into coming out of retirement to help them achieve their dream.

They face plenty of obstacles and challenges along the way to becoming a real team. The series is a comedy with dramatic overtones.

Trailer

Objectives

• To show through an entertainment format, that individuals can work together for a common good, despite the challenge of overcoming prejudices and stereotypes;
• To educate millions of Zimbabweans about how to build peace in their lives and in their communities, and to demonstrate that this is achievable and desirable;
• To decrease violence and intolerance, particularly amongst young people;
• To promote a more balanced power dynamic between men and women;
• To model constructive societal change; and
• To strengthen local capacity to produce positive, high-quality media programming.

To achieve the above objectives SFCG Zimbabwe has a three tier strategy:

1. Marketing and Publicity Campaign
2. Outreach
3. Leadership Development for Peacebuilding

Marketing and Media Campaign

The marketing and publicity plan has the following three pillars:

• Building a buzz in the national and local media about the show;
• Creating a visual brand and publicity materials to be distributed throughout communities;
• Organizing a launch event and subsequent screenings of the show in Harare and in specified locations.

Outreach on Community Peacebuidling

Immediately after The Team completes broadcasting in December 2011, an outreach program will undertake a series of small targeted screenings and dialogues for diverse audiences from across dividing lines. The mobile cinema screenings will be taken to Murehwa, Highfields, Lupane, Buhera, Mvurwi, and Magunje. Each event will convene 50-70 people over three days to watch the series and participate in professionally led dialogues.

Leadership Development for Peacebuilding

Using the common ground approach to peace building the outreach work will be followed by leadership development for peace building.

Partners

SFCG's implementing partners are The International Video Fair Trust; Mai Jai Films; The Zimbabwe Young Women's Network for Peace Building; Hannibal Ndlovu; Wisdom Tayengwa; The ZimboJam and Ben Mahaka.

The Team: Zimbabwe Screenings

The Team will be broadcast through December, after which screenings will be brought into communities throughout the country. See our map:

The Team has received funding from the following: