A Win or Loss for One Is a Win or Loss for All”: David Kazadi Calls for Professionalism in Zambian Cinema Following Premiere Debacle
LUSAKA — Prominent Zambian filmmaker David Kazadi has sparked an essential industry-wide debate following critical social media remarks addressing the structural and operational challenges facing local cinema.
Kazadi’s commentary comes on the heels of the recent high-profile premiere for Wycliff Mwamba’s feature film, The Pawn, where an estimated crowd of over 1,000 film enthusiasts was left unable to watch the screening due to unexpected “technical issues.
While many viewed the post as a direct response to the premiere’s organizational shortcomings, Kazadi emphasized that his message was not about personal rivalry, but about the long-term survival and credibility of the entire Zambian film ecosystem.
In a candid Facebook post, Kazadi criticized what he called a “toxic culture of self-reliance” the tendency of local creators to take on every single role in a production, from screenwriting and directing to producing and business management.
“Leveraging someone else’s skills, knowledge, or expertise doesn’t make you weak, it makes you stronger and actually grows the industry. But that growth starts with self-awareness and honesty.” He said.
Addressing self-awareness in filmmaking, Kazadi shared his own career philosophy, revealing that he has deliberately avoided scriptwriting in favor of hiring specialized talent to complement his skills.
Kazadi warned that missteps in execution carry severe ripple effects across the sector, directly affecting public trust, investor confidence, and corporate support for future projects.
We are all pitching to the exact same stakeholders,” Kazadi wrote. “We sell tickets to the same audience, pitch sponsorships to the same corporate brands, and ask for trust from the same investors. When one project fails due to poor execution, unprofessionalism, or lack of business structure, it poisons the well for everyone coming behind them.
Kazadi’s sentiments resonated widely across the creative sector, drawing backing from veteran actors and industry heavyweights, including legendary filmmaker and actor Owas Mwape, who echoed the call for higher operational standards and specialized collaboration.
Despite the firm critique, Kazadi closed on an optimistic note regarding his own upcoming project, revealing that tickets for his November 14 red-carpet event reached 60% capacity in just four days, proving that public appetite for Zambian cinema remains strong when backed by effective business structures
