"WHEN I look at those tractors used by the municipality to cut grass, I feel they are under-used and they could be on a field somewhere doing more productive work," said Simon Chimbetu.

He also talked about the cost of diesel and the accuracy that he now expects from the meteorological station's weather forecasts.

"They have a bearing on what we do here. I might miss the main news but the weather report is something I should not miss, it helps me to plan," he said.

Helped

One would think weather forecasts helped Chimbetu plan on where to have his shows, how to dress for the show and whether there should be a "no rain fears, full tent coverage" advert for his show.

No.

Far away from the madding and dancing crowd under the stage but on top of a bulldozer, Chimbetu, fondly referred to as "Chopper" was speaking a different language from the chords of his guitars and microphones of his band.

He is a fully-fledged farmer who owns a property called Dendera Farm outside Chegutu.

"I was not resettled here, I bought this property with my brothers and I am one of the directors . . . the other directors are Brian and Naison," he said.

Instead of "testing one-two", the musical stage language when they tune their instruments Chopper talks about tobacco, maize and farm workers!

Dendera Farm is 400 hectares of which 150 is arable while the rest is for ranching.

Chopper had the idea of venturing into farming when he used to work at the Tobacco Auction Floors where the "gold leaf" stole part of his heart that belonged to music then.

The farm cost $2,8 million which the brothers paid off in two years and this year they had their first tobacco crop.

"The other major crop we have here is maize and we plan to increase the herd of cattle currently standing at slightly above 100," he said.

Chopper employs 20 people on a permanent basis and regularly hires labourers when the need arises. He has relied on his own knowledge about tobacco while he also got help from his workers who used to work for another farmer.

He said dividing his time between music and farming had not been difficult since even when he started playing music, he was employed elsewhere.

"I am on the farm during the day and during the weekends I am playing my music, I don't get mixed up at all, I am used to this now," he said.

He was optimistic that the country could earn more foreign currency if more indigenous farmers went into tobacco farming because they were likely to remit all their earnings in the country.

"Besides I feel we will be able to develop the places near us, look at Norton, surrounded by farmers but has nothing to show for it," he said.

Chopper said he has never had a song idea when he is on the farm but looks at new things he could try as a farmer.

He asked the Government to look at the prices of farm equipment which he said was beyond the reach of farmers just coming on board.

Chopper also felt the Government should jealously guard its airspace suspecting that enemies could influence the atmosphere for poor rains.

Message

Asked what message he had for other musicians Chopper said they should prepare for other days: "Well music comes and goes and during the time your music is down you must fall back on something, I will fall on farming," he said.

As we discussed in his car, Chopper drove from one workshop to another looking for tractor spares, engine parts and enjoying every moment of it as he explored his newly-found flair.

When we got to his farm, it was a marvel to watch him drive his newly-acquired bulldozer as it pulled discs in what I could only guess was "winter-ploughing".

"I am at the farm," he said, answering to numerous call most likely asking where his next gig was.