THE issue of music awards has proved to be a complicated puzzle in Zimbabwe over the years.

First it was the Tatenda Siyabonga Music Awards (Tsama) then Zimbabwe Music Awards (Zima) but consistency seemed to elude both efforts to honour outstanding musicians.

There were also one-off Gramma Awards and the proposed People's Choice Music Awards that suffered a stillbirth.

Now there is a new player on the field in the form of Progressive Music Awards (Proma).

Organisers of the awards, which will be launched in September, believe they have all that it takes to fill the gaps left by the preceding music awards.

The pre-launch to the awards is slated for July 30 before the September 3 launch and the award ceremony on October 2 at the Glamis Arena.

Proma chairman, Blessing Jeke, said they had leant lessons from the preceding award ceremonies and would do their best to ensure that theirs would be consistent and credible.

"We feel that we have to cast the nets wide in terms of honouring musicians.

"Our country is one of the few that do not have consistent music awards and we have sent our team to other countries in the region to learn how music awards are run there," said Jeke.

"Most of our musicians are doing very well and there is need to recognise their efforts in order to encourage them and inspire aspiring musicians.

"We will do our best to achieve that goal."

He emphasised that he respected the previous awards and would not comment on their successes and shortfalls.

Proma is expected to take a different approach from other awards as it broadens the cut-off period to about two years back.

Jeke said the initial awards would look at material dating back to 2008 because there have not been serious efforts to honour musicians for some years due to the country's economic meltdown.

He said they would consider awarding artists in as many categories as possible while there would also be a people's choice nomination in each award.

"We will have experienced music critics, record companies, disc-jockeys and journalists in the adjudication team.

"We want to select four musicians per category and people would vote for the fifth winner through internet and text messages.

"There would be posthumous awards for outstanding late musicians because we feel most of them have not received due recognition for their efforts."

It remains to be seen whether Proma would be able to set the pace for consistent and credible awards or fall by the wayside after only a few steps.