THE Zimbabwe Censorship Board has banned newly released comedy feature film, Lobola, which features Big Brother Africa star, Munyaradzi Chidzonga, from showing on the local cinema circuit.

The film premiered in Harare last week in a high profile event attended by Big Brother Africa All Stars 2010 housemates Lerato, Meryl, Mwisho, Jen, Paloma and Sheila, cabinet ministers as well as local artists Oliver Mtukudzi, Leonard Mapfumo, Cindy and Stunner.

However, the producers said the country's Censorship Board had refused to sanction the movie for general distribution in the country.

“Zimbabwe Censorship Board granted permission to screen the movie for the premiere after intervention of Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity.

“This permission has not been extended to the cinema circuit, DVD or any other public access of the movie,” the producers said in a statement.

The Board objected to the film's general release on the grounds that it does not “really portray African custom when it comes to marriage” adding “one does not go to get married while drunk”.

The Board also objected to a scene in the film where “young people kiss in front of parents” as well as its “abrupt ending”.

Still, the producers said they were appealing the Board’s decision with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

“It is the view of the producers that the reasons given for the denial do not constitute harmful threats to Zimbabwean society.

“Lobola producers thank all those who have supported the movie thus far and look forward to giving viewers the opportunity to enjoy the movie legally,” the statement added.

The movie, written by Joe Njagu, tells the story of three brothers born to a rich United States-based Zimbabwean family who travel to the country of their parents on holiday, before deciding to get married.

Sean Muza, played by Chidzonga, is the heir apparent to a vast fortune from his father’s granite-import company.

He falls in love with Dalma Chiwereva’s character, Christine Moyana, in the “ghetto” of Chitungwiza and decides to marry after a brief courtship.

Not fully accustomed to the rituals of traditional Zimbabwean marriage, Sean Muza ropes in equally-ignorant brothers Curtis (Sean Ray) and T-Bone (Tonderai Hakuna), and his Zimbabwe-resident uncle, Sekuru Magaya (Anthony Tongani), as assistants.

The movie is an account of the day on which the Muza boys cross town from their affluent vacation home to the Moyana residence in Chitungwiza where the marriage drama unfolds.

The Moyanas, meanwhile, are a family not without its problems. Christine’s brother, William, played by Eddie Sandifolo, is seen as something of an outcast --  he does not live at home, is not productively employed like everybody else, and he is not invited to the lobola ceremony as with all family gatherings. But William will stop at nothing to make his presence felt.