Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Tatenda Chipungudzanye
5 January 2008
Harare — Sungura musician Alick Macheso capped a successful year by clinching the ZTV Top 100 Most Popular Video contest on the New Year's Eve.
Macheso won the accolade for the video of Madhuwe, a track off his latest offering titled Ndezvashe-eh, while his archrival Tongai Moyo settled for second place with Muchina Muhombe, from his popular 2005 album Naye.
Gospel musician Shingisai Suluma was voted number three for Maitiro Enyu. According to official figures, Macheso polled 737 votes with Tongai Moyo a distant second with 296 votes - he would have been relegated to third had the authorities not disqualified Roki's Chidzoka - while Mai Suluma got 175 votes. For winning, Macheso got $1 billion, a trip for two to the majestic Victoria Falls, two sponsored nights in Victoria Falls plus activities and a three-piece Rover entertainment unit worth $750 million.
Macheso also got two NetOne lines a golf T-shirt, a further $100 million in cash, a seven-piece tea-set worth $50 million and a five-piece kitchen set valued around $300 million. When results of the contest reached the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex where Macheso was performing, the talented bassist earned himself $150 million cash from Babra Chikosi of Red Rose Entertainment and $500 million from a Kadoma farmer called Vambe who also splashed $200 million on prolific dancer Franco "Slomo" Dhaka.
Tongai Moyo got $1 billion, one Easycall line, a five-piece kitchen set worth $500 million, a coffee table valued at $100 million and a seven-piece tea-set worth $50 million, and $75 million in cash while he will also spend two nights at the Great Zimbabwe. Mai Suluma, the only woman to make it into the top five, is also $1 billion richer and got a trip for two to Nyanga where she will spend two nights. She further got an Easycall line, a seven-piece tea set valued at $50 million plus another $200 million cash prize. Xtra Large, who were fourth placed, got $1 billion for their Aiwa Mukoma video while young Kudzi Nyakudya also got the same amount for Ndamuona Jesu.
Xtra Large and Nyakudya polled 172 and 160 votes. ZBC-TV marketing executive Piwayi Dzuda said they had, in partnership with NetOne, invited television viewers to determine the winning video via sms. Viewers had almost two months to cast their votes while presenters of the Thursday night music programme, Mutinhimira/Ezomgido kept reminding them that they were voting for the best video, not the best song. "Many a time you always have technical experts crying foul after one wins or loses so we thought of making people vote. "People should also be reminded that our advert clearly stated we were looking for the most popular videos by public vote. We were using the popular vote," Dzuda said.
With the total population of mobile phone subscribers estimated at around 1,5 million, there can be concerns that the results are not a true reflection of the ZTV viewership. However, Macheso was on cloud nine this week and he believes the contest will encourage artistes to come up with polished products. "As some have indicated, the fans are the best judges so I thank them for appreciating our music and the immense contribution by Chicco (South Africa's Selo Twala) and Eric Frish and his staff at Mobile Music Trust have made this project a success.
"Sponsors have done the music industry proud and this enhances the industry as everyone is now striving for perfection. "This year, every musician will be fighting to create the best product and this alone is an advancement in the country's music," Macheso said.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Herald. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
