“YOU should learn from other people’s mistakes because your own blunders might be irreversible,” so goes a traditional piece of advice.

But this advice seems to have eluded gospel musician, Amos Mahendere, following his open show of allegiance to Zanu PF through the production of the party’s jingles that have caused a stir in the inclusive government.

Mahendere produced the songs and the videos from Mbare Chimurenga Choir that shower praises on President Robert Mugabe.
The songs are being played on all stations owned by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH).

Sources say Mahendere has always had close links with Media, Information and Publicity minister Webster Shamu, which saw him lending his hand in the production of the song Happy Birthday that was penned to celebrate Mugabe’s 80th birthday.

His younger brothers, Misheck and Michael, were part of Pax Afro, a group that Jonathan Moyo formed during his heyday as government’s propaganda chief.

But in those days Mahendere was working behind the scenes and it is his recent open declaration of his participation in the making of jingles that could cost him.

It also exposed him as a musician who refused to learn from the misfortunes that befell his contemporaries due to political allegiance.
Musicians like Last “Tambaoga” Chiyangwa, Andy Brown, Fortunate “Sister Flame” Matenga and Bryn Mteki have helplessly watched their careers go down the drain because they chose to openly sing the Zanu PF tune.

Tambaoga is notorious for taking a leading role in the highly unpopular jingles like Rambai Makashinga and Sendekera in addition to doing his own politically inclined songs like Agirimende.

 Brown and Sister Flame joined the hondo yeminda crazy and did a number of songs in support of the chaotic land reform programme but that move nailed their careers on the cross.

Mteki thought he had discovered a gold mine when he recorded the album Zvaida Kushinga with the late Elliot Manyika that featured the notorious hit Nora only to discover that he had cast his career into the wilderness.

Most of these musicians were dumped after failing to prop up Zanu PF's fortunes and they are still trying to convince people that they quit politics without success.

Although they no longer want to be associated with politics the graves they dug for their careers are too deep to let them return, even as ghosts.
Mahendere has seen all this happening and it is mind boggling to see him sacrificing his career on a well-known alter of doom.

But the musician is adamant that he has not put his career on the rope.

“I am different from other musicians that have worked with musangano (Zanu PF) because I am not putting my voice or lyrics on these projects,” Mahendere explained.

“I am just a music producer and I do not go anywhere further. These people (Mbare Chimurenga Choir) approached me and we entered a deal that is fair to both parties.

“I charged them $15 per hour for my services. If they had sung anything directly degrading another political party or person, I would not have worked with them.”

Mahendere, however, admitted that his move had attracted mixed feelings.

“Many people are talking about it and I have received so many enquiries but I remain apolitical.”
A music analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity concurred that the route that Mahendere has taken might prove costly for the energetic musician.

“Of course he has been doing projects for Zanu PF silently but being involved in these controversial jingles is something else,” said the analyst.
“We all know the fate that has befallen musicians that did Zanu PF jingles.

“They have lost popularity and it is difficult for them to return to the limelight.
“I think Mahendere has taken it for granted but he will definitely feel the consequences that go with such actions.
“It is even worse with him because gospel music fans are the least tolerant.”

BY GODWIN MUZARI

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