The Daily News (Harare)
Guthrie Munyuki
11 February 2003
CHIMURENGA music exponent, Dr Thomas Mapfumo, a fierce critic of President Mugabe's policies, says he has no sympathy for musicians who have destroyed their careers for "cheap political gain".
Instead, Mapfumo said support should be given to the artistes who have resisted political overtures to remain neutral in their music.
"It is sad that promising musicians have fallen for money and politicians are using them to promote their policies which are not in line with the people's expectations," Mapfumo said in an interview before leaving for the United States last month.
He was referring to such musicians as Andy Brown, Dickson "Cde Chinx" Chingaira, Simon Chimbetu, Bryn Mteki, Last Chiyangwa and Marko Sibanda, who have destroyed their careers by campaigning for the ruling Zanu PF's land seizures.
Brown was instrumental in leading a crop of young musicians to the studios for recording the Third Chimurenga series albums during the Hondo Yeminda period.
The musician quickly faded and on more than three occasions, was chased from nightclubs by many of his former fans who were incensed by his support of the bloody agrarian reforms.
"It is by choice that people like Andy Brown have lost their respect. Surely he would have made more money as a musician in his own right than trying to earn a living out of Zanu PF projects," said Mapfumo.
He said the poverty, now at alarming levels in the country, had always been there and at one time he too was its victim.
"But we worked ourselves out of poverty through perseverance and determination. Today we can be counted among respected people because of being independent from politicians.
"The music industry needs those who are patient," the veteran musician said. Mapfumo said musicians were the mirror of their society and their actions were expected to be commensurate with their role.
"There are musicians who fought in the war but refused to be used in the Zanu PF campaign on land reform and Chave Chimurenga public relations material. Clive Malunga is one such guy," Mapfumo said.
He said Malunga was doing a sterling job in supporting musicians, therefore he deserved the support of the industry.
Malunga was instrumental in lobbying the University of Zimbabwe to endow Mapfumo an honorary degree for his contribution to local music.
Malunga was the first to recognise Mapfumo when he presented him with a gold medal for achievement.
Last year, Malunga honoured both Mapfumo and Stella Chiweshe with medals and an 18-carat gold medal for their unparalleled contribution to the music industry.
But as Mapfumo spoke, it emerged that Chiwoniso Maraire, mbira player and former wife of Brown, has joined the list of Zanu PF musicians.
Maraire appears on both Chave Chimurenga and Machembere commercials that are the brainchild of Professor Jonathan Moyo, the Minister for State for Information and Publicity in the President's Office.
Since revelations of her participation in the adverts which are played endlessly on radio, Maraire's fan support base has shrunk.
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