Oketex granted African movies rights

OKETEX Investments, a Harare-based movie distributor being run by Nigerian nationals, has been granted the right to sell and distribute African movies from Nollywood in Sadc and East African countries by the Actors Guide of Nigeria.

The firm is also partnering the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority in the production of the ground-breaking project — The Zimbabwe I Know.

In a letter of approval issued to George Amarachi Okeke, the Oketex Investments boss, the young entrepreneur will among other things engage relevant stakeholders to try and ensure that the movies are not pirated.

"The national executive of the Actors Guide of Nigeria wish to convey to our decision appointing you our representative to monitor, approve and sell any movie from Nigeria with actors in Zimbabwe and the whose of Sadc for a renewable period of four years.

"You should protect the films from pirates and make sure that royalties are paid to the actors through the Actors Guide of Nigeria or relevant Guide of body appropriate," reads part of the letter. Okeke pledged to work with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and the Anti-Piracy of Zimbabwe in curbing piracy.

Meanwhile, casting of actors for The Zimbabwe I Know begins this afternoon and tomorrow at the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority offices in Harare.

Revered actor Tavonga Mafundikwa – better known as "CC" — will be monitoring the auditions together with a selected panel of adjudicators.