Godwin Muzari
20 June 2009
THE Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has reportedly banned Hosiah Chipanga's latest album, Hero Shoko, from being played on all its stations because of alleged political overtones, Standardplus has established.
Authorities at the country's sole broadcaster last week reportedly sent strict instructions to presenters and producers to stop playing any song on the album released last month, "with immediate effect".
"Our superiors told us to stop playing all the songs from the album," said a prominent producer/presenter with Radio Zimbabwe.
"Initially only two songs had been specified but a final order was sent that we should shelve the whole album.
"Songs Zvaita Nyika and Baba Nkomo, have strong and direct political messages which did not go down well with 'higher' offices."
But ZBC public relations manager Sivukile Simango dismissed reports the album had been banned from airplay saying the broadcaster's policy only allowed it to block songs on moral grounds.
However, Simango admitted that Chipanga's album had not been receiving airplay of late, saying it could just be out of producers' choice.
"We only stop songs that are obscene or morally incorrect," he said. "We did not ban the album and I am not sure why it is not being played."
Simango said he could prove there was no ban on the musician's songs by offering this writer a slot to play any song from the album on radio.
When this writer phoned later "accepting the offer", Simango became evasive saying it would be difficult to get airtime since the slot was not readily available.
Although Chipanga was not immediately available for comment, his artistic and repertoire manager Tich Makahamadze on Wednesday said he knew about the development.
"I am at ZBC at the moment," he said. "Presenters have told us that they cannot play the album and we are trying to establish why.
"Chipanga has gone to meet Minister (of Media, Information and Publicity) Webster Shamu (who is Zimbabwe Union of Musicians patron) to make further enquiries on the issue."
Details of the outcome of the meeting were not immediately available.
Chipanga boldly tackles serious political issues in the songs in question.
The message on Baba Nkomo is an inquiry into the criteria used in conferring national hero status for burial at the national Heroes' Acre.
Chipanga claims to have spoken to the departed national heroes who ask why others deserving similar honour did not get it.
The literal translation of the song would be: "Baba (Joshua) Nkomo has asked me: 'You have buried me here as a hero but where is Ndabaningi (Sithole)?'
"(Hebert) Chitepo has asked me: 'You have made me a national hero, what about (James) Chikerema?'
"(Chief) Tangwena has demanded to know why (Canaan) Banana was not buried with him at the national shrine."
The hero status issue has been a bone of contention for sometime and Chipanga's song must have opened old wounds.
The other controversial song, Zvaita Nyika is a commentary on the economic state of the country.
Chipanga says the authorities refused to take advice, hence the decay that has gnawed at the economy.
"It is your fault elders. You ignored the will of God and you have destroyed the nation.
"Our roads are now gullies and our currency has become worthless.
"We now use other people's currencies and money is now extremely scarce.
"There is no longer any difference between the rural and urban dwellers. We both dig wells and fetch firewood," says the song in part.
Godwin Muzari
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