eBusiness Weekly
Taurai Mangudhla
He does not hold a PHD in economics or trade, yet his views on the economy of Zimbabwe count. He has an Honorary Doctorate in music from the Ohio University at Athens but anyone who has listened to his music, pre and post-independence, knows he has been an avid political and social commentator, consistently so to a point he earned the respect of many in the country and abroad.
His opinion has not always pleased the Government of the day, instead constantly amplifying the ordinary man’s plight hence his bad experiences with two Governments, the Ian Smith led Rhodesian one where he was locked up in prison without charges and that of Zimbabwe led by Robert Mugabe which haunted him into exile in 2000.
Before the end of colonial rule, his Chimurenga music had become a symbol of the struggle against black oppression by a minority white rule with songs like his 1974 hit Kuyaura, a song that talks about the suffering of blacks and calls for the elders to intervene with ideas. It talks about the plight of the homeless and how his parents and relatives turned destitute and suffered to trying to escape the war.
After Independence, he landed big record deals in London but remained a critic of the politics of the day and an advocate of the masses singing about poverty, corruption and bad governance.
Whether you like him or not, hate or love his music, it is no debate that his lyrics are far from the ordinary artistes in Zimbabwe.
Discussions about his career and lyrical content has seen a few followers describing him as somewhat of a prophet.
Thomas Mapfumo, 73 now, sang about corruption soon after independence when very few knew what kind of an animal it was. Most could not see it until much later.
His sharp criticism of former President Mugabe’s regime through songs like Mamvemve which basically meant the country was now in tatters and another hit Disaster on his 2000 album Chimurenga Explosion which came at the peak of the fast tracked land reform was the final blow.
The chaotic exercise displaced thousands of commercial farmers eventually resulting in de-industrialisation of Zimbabwe’s agro-based manufacturing sector. Various papers have been written about the impact of the land reform including how billions were lost.
At time the impact of the land reform was yet to be felt. It was two years later than people lost jobs and basic goods kept going up with fuel turning into a rare find. People started queuing for fuel over nights and days and it became apparent the country was indeed in tatters.
He went into exile in 2004
Articles about his return have been written over the 14 years he was in exile, all of them false until he finally announced his home coming show of April 28.
He has been in the country for days now and is set to perform at the Glamis Arena tomorrow night.
Since his return, Mapfumo hogged headlines in the local media for various reasons including the reasons for his departure in 2004 and what happened to his wealth.
He has, bluntly as usual, said he would tell Mugabe that he has messed up if he had a chance to meet him. Mugabe was removed through military intervention in November 2017 to end a 37-year rule characterised by economic stagnation and marred by corruption and questionable political decisions that put the rule of law into question.
Asked to give a comment about the new political dispensation, Mapfumo said there wasn’t much change yet although he acknowledged that he wouldn’t have come back under Mugabe’s rule.
In a response to the Business Weekly yesterday at his hotel, Mapfumo commended efforts by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Government- currently implementing a pro economic strategy with priority towards international re-engagement and other deliverables like job creation, rule of law, peace and free elections efforts.
The music icon urged Government to remain faithful to its strategy and see it through for the benefit of Zimbabwe.
“In terms of the economy we are moving in the right direction, I think,” Mapfumo said.
“We should keep on like that, this is what the people wanted and they (Government) should do the right thing always,” Mapfumo said on his way to a crucial meeting.
Indeed President Mnangagwa appears to have struck the right code.
Zimbabwe will for the first time have a full representation of global observers at its upcoming harmonised elections.
President Mnangagwa spearheaded the international re-engagement drive by inviting the world to invest in Zimbabwe. He made a historic trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos where he emphasised the Zimbabwe is open for business.
What remains now, like Mapfumo said, is for the President and his men to keep this right path and walk the talk on pro-economic reforms, commitment to rule of law and fighting corruption.
