Ashley Dean Misho
Information and Technology Reporter<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BULAWAYO \u2013 The iconic Ster-Kinekor cinemas at Bulawayo Centre have permanently shut its doors, leaving a void in the city\u2019s cultural landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A closure notice now hangs at the entrance, confirming the relocation of equipment and staff to Harare \u2013 a decision attributed to declining patronage amid the digital streaming boom .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The shutdown marks the end of a decade-long chapter for Bulawayo\u2019s entertainment scene, following Ster-Kinekor\u2019s earlier closure of its Sam Levy Village Cinema in Harare in June 2024 .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Community\u2019s Collective Memory Fades<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For residents like former patron T. Moyo, the cinema represented irreplaceable milestones:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Every Tuesday was half-price day \u2013 my wife and I made it our date night. I took my daughter for her birthday to watch Avengers: Endgame here. The big screen and surround sound made films come alive in ways streaming never can” .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These sentiments echo across Bulawayo, where the venue served as a cross-generational hub for first dates, family outings, and student gatherings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Economic and Cultural Ripples<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The closure reflects a national trend hitting traditional cinemas. As streaming services (Netflix, Showmax, Disney+) dominate, even prime venues struggle:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attendance Crisis: A 200-seater cinema might draw only 10 patrons per screening .
Local Film Impact: Premieres like Qiniso (2015) proved demand for domestic content, yet partnerships between cinemas and Zimbabwean filmmakers remain underdeveloped .
Job Losses: Staff relocations compound unemployment in a city already facing economic headwinds .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crispen Rateiwa, Chairperson of College Youth Art Club, warns:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Cinemas aren\u2019t just about films \u2013 they\u2019re spaces where students from all backgrounds build human connections. Losing them erodes social cohesion”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Digital Onslaught vs. Cinematic Resilience<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While streaming\u2019s convenience is undeniable, industry advocates emphasize what\u2019s lost:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The communal gasps, shared laughter, and immersive soundscapes of cinemas create emotional bonds no living room can replicate,” notes film scholar Basil Hamusokwe .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Efforts to revive the sector include innovative proposals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Discount Models: Semester passes for students ($10\/unlimited access), senior citizen rates, and club deals .
Diversified Content: Live broadcasts of events (NAMA Awards, Harare Carnival) and expanded concession offerings .
Location-Based Pricing: Variable ticket costs by seat location and screening time .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Uncertain Future<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With Ster-Kinekor\u2019s Bulawayo and Harare (Sam Levy Village) branches closed, only Joina City Cinema remains operational nationally . The company\u2019s search for new venues continues, but as streaming algorithms replace curated screenings, film enthusiasts mourn more than shuttered buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This was where we experienced stories together,” laments Moyo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Now we\u2019re just strangers watching different screens at home”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Bulawayo grapples with this cultural shift, the fading projector light symbolizes a pressing question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can shared experiences survive the age of isolation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additional Context<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ster-Kinekor previously closed multiple South African branches in late 2024, signaling regional industry challenges .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zim GBC NEWS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ashley Dean MishoInformation and Technology Reporter BULAWAYO \u2013 The iconic Ster-Kinekor cinemas at Bulawayo Centre have permanently shut its doors, leaving a void in the city\u2019s cultural landscape. A closure… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[114],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-information-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7108","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7108"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7108\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7109,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7108\/revisions\/7109"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7108"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}