Burmese comedian and activist Zarganar was sentenced Friday to 45 years in jail. Burmese comedian and activist Zarganar was sentenced Friday to 45 years in jail. (Associated Press)

A Zimbabwean playwright whose works have been banned in his own country and a Burmese comedian now in prison have been awarded the inaugural ArtVenture Freedom to Create prizes.

The prizes, with a large cash award, were created by ArtVenture to honour artists who defend their freedom at great personal sacrifice.

Cont Mhlanga won the $50,000 Freedom to Create prize for his political satire, The Good President.

The Good President depicts a fictional African dictator who has ruled Zimbabwe for 27 years since the country gained independence in 1980.

The play has been banned by the government of Robert Mugabe. Mhlanga has a reputation for upsetting those in power in Zimbabwe — his works have not been performed at home since 2006.

Mhlanga, 47, is a producer, director and writer of 21 plays and three books. Mhlanga said he's always been cautious in his work, skirting the truth with satire.

"What saved me is that I've always focused on hard-hitting issues without touching the political side. I hope this award gives me global exposure, as that in itself gives me safety."

He announced Thursday, he would give half of his prize money to Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), an organization campaigning for rights and democracy in the face of police arrests and harassment.

The winner of the $25,000 Freedom to Create Imprisoned Artist prize is Burma's Zarganar, who uses humour to promote democracy.

He was arrested last June after giving statements to foreign media that were critical of the junta's slow response to Cyclone Nargis. Last Friday, a court sentenced him to 45 years in prison for "disaffection toward state and government.''

An empty chair was set aside at the Toronto International Authors Festival in recognition of Zarganar's imprisonment and he won Pen Canada's One Humanity Award.

Second place in the ArtVenture Freedom to Create prize went to the Belarus Free Theatre, an underground project founded in 2005 to resist censorship.