All set for widows gala

Tryson and Peter

MORE than 15 musicians are set to take part in the Musicians’ Widows Association of Zimbabwe music gala to be held at the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex on March 31. The gala seeks to raise funds to assist widows of departed musicians.

Topping the bill will be Blessing Shumba, Peter Moyo, Tryson Chimbetu, Nicholas “Madzibaba” Zakaria, Mahendere Brothers, Kireni Zulu, Freddy “Kapfupi” Manjalima, Pastor Haisa, Morgan and Tendai Dembo, Morgan Tembo Jnr, Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave, Joyce Simeti and pole dancer Beverly Sibanda.

Co-ordinator of the concert Benjamin Ganyiwa said: “The gala is aimed at trying to come out and assist widows of departed musicians as they (musicians) contributed a lot to our industry and left behind a legacy.

“The widows want something to survive on and this is being made impossible by piracy, which is affecting a lot the works left behind by their spouses.

“They have not been getting much from the musical projects to sustain them and by holding this gala we hope that they get something that can assist them,” Ganyiwa said.Ganyiwa said proceeds from the concert would go into the treasury account of the widows’ association.

“The funds will later be disbursed among the widows and also try to connect them with other income-generating projects like cross-border trade, flea markets and housing co-operatives, among others to ensure that they don’t just rely on the royalties made from their late spouses’ works,” he said.

Ganyiwa also paid tribute to the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity, Webster Shamu, who is also the patron of the Zimbabwe Union of Musicians, for coming up with the idea for the formation of the widows’ association.

“We salute Minister Shamu, who is the brainchild of this association and he is fighting a worthy cause for musicians and their families,” Ganyiwa said. Barbara Tazvida, Eunice Dembo and Angela Chimbetu — who are the widows of the late musicians Fanuel “System”, Leonard and Simon — are some of the board members of the association, which was formed last year.

In 2011, the association tried to hold its inaugural gig, but it failed to take off, following squabbles between some members of the association. The members had to go back and reorganise and reconstitute themselves and it looks like they are now ready to take off. Culled from Herald