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Savanna Tobacco ploughs $200k into showbiz

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LOCAL cigarette manufacturing company Savanna Tobacco has poured in $200 000 into showbiz as a way of ploughing back into the community.

LOCAL cigarette manufacturing company Savanna Tobacco has poured in $200 000 into showbiz as a way of ploughing back into the community.

WINSTONE ANTONIO OWN CORRESPONDENT

The company through its Pacific Breeze and Pacific Storm brands on Wednesday appointed Dendera musician Sulumani Chimbetu and dancehall chanter Tocky Vibes (real name Obey Makamure) as their brand ambassadors at a ceremony held at their offices in the capital.

Speaking at the ceremony, the company’s chief operating officer Tongesai Zvaravanhu said the two musicians are trendsetters’ in their own genres.

“Sulu carries a famous name, but he has become a trendsetter in dendera music. He is unique, talented and very hardworking and Savanna Tobacco is proud to announce him as its Brand Ambassador,” he said.

“Our Brand Ambassadors will be speaking on behalf of our Pacific Flow-wrap packs (10’s, 5’s and 2’s), the only legal, and hygienic and quality product specially made for the sticks (mudzanga) market,” he said.

Zvaravanhu said this package that has been set aside for the project includes direct artiste support, publicity and marketing, album launches and other materials.

“Savanna Tobacco will also be hosting a huge ‘Zimbabwe’s Finest’ concert in the near future, where Sulu, Tocky and two other mystery Brand Ambassadors will be officially unveiled to the public,” he said. “We would like to associate with fresh thinkers, who are setting the tone for a population which celebrates its patriotism, its freedom and its own home-grown brands.”

Both musicians said this year is promising to be a better one in their careers as it has started on a positive note.

“I am very happy that 2015 has started on a different note with Savanna Tobacco showing their faith in us to support our works,” Sulu said.

“This is not my first time to work with Savanna Tobacco. We once worked together in 2010 to 2012 doing shows in Harare, Mutare and Bulawayo.”

The Mhai singer said he was happy to be working with Sulu through this ambassadorship deal.

“I am happy to be associated with such a big brand as Savanna Tobacco and I now believe that my downfall will not be that easy,” Tocky said.

“As artistes we had stage relationship, as we met and shared the stage at different shows, but as for now our relationship has been cemented.”

Zvaravanhu said their involvement in the showbiz is aimed at bringing pleasure to their valued customers and communities that they are operating in.

“Drumming and mbira have always been central to our way of life in Africa and hence our close association and support for music,” he said.

“We are proudly Zimbabwean, but we take equal pride in being Africans. This is our turf, our country and our continent and as Savanna Tobacco we stand to reawaken our sense of responsibility for the upliftment of our people and our economies.”

Savanna Tobacco has supported music and the arts in past, including great luminaries like Oliver Mtukudzi, Alick Macheso and South African veteran jazz musician Hugh Masekela.