Dar Es Salaam — THE fight against malaria is taking a new impetus with the launching of Tanzania's biggest ever musical collaboration among top local artists.

Clouds FM General Manager, Ruge Mutahaba announced that over 18 local artists will take part in the concert to kick start the campaign.

The concert dubbed 'Zinduka' is scheduled for Dar es Salaam on February 13 this year. The launching, he said, will be graced by President Jakaya Kikwete.

"From the 18 plus artists who have shown willingness to participate, already Lady JD, Prof Jay, Malow, Bi Kidude, Banana Zorro and Mwasiti have composed a song to kick start the campaign," Ruge said.

Attendants of the press conference today in Dar es Salaam got to see first hand, the music video of the Zinduka anthem that is blended with soothing voices and hip hop lyrics. President Kikwete sporting very casual attire appears in the video, urging everyone in the country to stand up and play a part in eradicating malaria.

Tanzania House of Talent (THT) features in the video and the youngsters are seen engaged in a mix of tap, gumboot dancing and a Ruvuma traditional jig. The function also saw the Minister for Health and Social Welfare, David Mwakyusa unveil the Zinduka billboard that has President Kikwete clad in a T-shirt with his fist in air signifying that malaria is unacceptable, people should arise against it.

Mwakyusa said that although there is an ongoing campaign against malaria already, Zinduka was necessary in that it is out to engage a lot more people including the media, sportsmen, politicians, business people, those in the entertainment industry and was partnering with the US based Malaria No More initiative.

"Together with President Kikwete, I believe that every Tanzanian will join this campaign and realise the dream of wiping out malaria from the country starting now," he said.

Lady Jay Dee believes that music has big room for delivering messages to all Tanzanians in the fight against malaria. Prof Jay said he is honoured to be part of the initiative and to play his part in using his voice through music to make a difference.

"It is slowly dawning on to me that my voice has authority and it gives me inner joy that I can give back to the community by waking people in fighting malaria," Prof Jay said.

'Malaria Haikubaliki' is an initiative urging Tanzanians to think differently about the disease with an objective of increasing practices to prevent malaria such as consistently sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito, detecting and treating malaria early and ensuring antenatal care for pregnant women.