ZANU PF has taken on board popular musicians in the country to beef up its campaign ahead of elections that inclusive government leaders President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said will be held later this year.
MOSES MATENGA/TAWANDA MARWIZI
Some of the artistes who seem to have given in to Zanu PF’s carrot are Sulumani Chimbetu, Alick Macheso and Shingisai Suluma, among several others.
During Mugabe’s belated birthday celebrations in Bindura over the weekend, Zimbabwe’s top musicians fell over each other to shower praises for Mugabe with award-winning dendera musician Suluman Chimbetu openly chanting Zanu PF slogans in praise of the veteran leader.
Chimbetu and his entire group Orchestra Dendera Kings appeared at the party clad in Zanu PF regalia save for his uncle Allan. Macheso also used the event to shower praises for Mugabe describing him in Shona as “chamvari” (very powerful force), while a musician believed to be popular gospel icon Charles Charamba also likened the Zanu PF leader to the biblical angel Gabriel.
Though the voice on the song appears to be that of Charamba, the musician denied any involvement in that project.
Sulu, however, stole the thunder from Macheso in both bootlicking and popularity with his song Sean Timba that was the crowd’s favourite at Chipadze Stadium.
The director of ceremonies for the day, Mike Gava, put Macheso and Sulumani to a contest by asking people what they wanted between “Zora Butter” and “Batai Munhu” to which the response was overwhelmingly in Sulu’s favour.
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In several of Sulumani’s recent shows, Zanu PF youths clad in overalls inscribed with Mugabe’s signature have been a common sight. Shingisai Suluma’s song Nanhasi has become Mugabe’s favourite. Mugabe’s affection for Suluma’s song Nanhasi continued with the veteran leader reiterating how the masterpiece inspired him. Suluma could not contain her joy and openly wept when she met Mugabe sometime this year.
Last year, Macheso also wept when he shook hands with Mugabe after a live performance during the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day commemorations at the National Sports Stadium.
It was, however, the 25-year-old ball juggler Peter Mpofu from Bulawayo who stole the limelight from both Chimbetu and Macheso with his ball juggling skills that mesmerised Mugabe, First Lady Grace and the first family together with thousands of party supporters in attendance. Mpofu took to the stage when Sulu was belting his popular tune and started his juggling skills before he was “dragged” near the podium for Mugabe and his family to watch him at close range.
Mesmerised by the sublime skills, Mugabe dug deeper into his pockets and gave Mpofu a few alms before Zanu PF chairman Simon Khaya Moyo and Mashonaland Central governor Martin Dinha also chipped in with some cash donations.
