A Neglected and Underestimated Multi-Billion-Dollar Sector

By Gibson Zulu

Zambia’s Film Industry Suffers from Lack of Political Will

Zambia’s film industry stands at a critical crossroads, brimming with creative talent yet hamstrung by the absence of a clear and sustainable financing framework. Stakeholders are now calling for the establishment of a National Film Fund, warning that without government-backed investment, the country risks forfeiting its share of a global multi-billion-dollar sector capable of driving job creation and economic growth.

For decades, Zambian filmmakers have told the nation’s stories with minimal support. From the days of Banja, Frank Sibuku’s iconic production capturing Zambia’s cultural life, to contemporary dramas like Zuba, Mpali, and Ubuntu under MultiChoice Zambia’s Zambezi Magic, the industry has proven its capacity for growth and audience appeal. Yet behind these successes lie mounting challenges: soaring production costs, limited access to professional equipment, and the near-total absence of structured financing for creators.

In Parliament, Nkana Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Binwell Mpundu recently moved a motion to establish a National Film Fund, describing the film sector as an “underestimated multi-billion-dollar opportunity” key to job creation and aligned with the President’s call for every sector to contribute to employment growth. Kamfinsa MP Christopher Kang’ombe supported the motion, stressing the need for targeted government intervention in the creative industries.

But the idea faced resistance. United Party for National Development (UPND) MPs Brian Kambita (Zambezi East) and Alex Katakwe (Solwezi East) dismissed the proposal, arguing that “funding the film sector is not an immediate priority” and insisting that limited government resources should first be directed to pressing developmental challenges. They proposed that filmmakers rely on the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) or international grants instead of seeking a dedicated national fund.

Industry leaders strongly disagree. National Arts and Media Association (NAMA) President Morgan Mbulo told MakanDay that the issue is not a lack of money but a lack of political will.

“If agriculture can thrive through FISP and SAFF, then film too deserves structured funding through a Film and TV Levy Commission,” he said he said, urging lawmakers to reintroduce the motion and give industry players a chance to present evidence on the sector’s economic potential.

Filmmaker Paul Willo, producer of Maria Khristu and Service to Heart, also criticised the parliamentary debate, saying some MPs opposed the motion out of misunderstanding.

“It’s time we ended the culture of opposing without understanding, especially in a law-making house,” he said. Willo questioned whether policymakers fully appreciate the value of artists, noting that when film is prioritised, it uplifts the entire creative ecosystem, from fashion and makeup to visual arts and music.

Mbulo, Willo, and other producers, actors, and writers form a growing coalition pushing for the revival of Mpundu’s Film Fund motion. They say that beyond entertainment, the film industry is a viable creative business sector capable of generating substantial employment and contributing meaningfully to Zambia’s GDP—if only the government recognises it as such.

Filmmakers now hope that the UPND government and parliament will rethink their stance, embrace film as a strategic industry, and invest in a sector that holds both cultural significance and vast economic potential.