Shamu jeered over Zanu PF slogans

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GOKWE residents on Friday night resisted an attempt by Zanu PF to turn the Unity Day musical gala into a political event.

GOKWE residents on Friday night resisted an attempt by Zanu PF to turn the Unity Day musical gala into a political event.

REPORT BY BLESSED MHLANGA/TAWANDA MARWIZI

The fans booed Zanu PF political commissar and minister of Information Webster Shamu and his entourage after they arrived on the stage chanting their party slogans, much to the chagrin of music lovers.

Shamu had denounced MDC-T at a gala ironically set aside to celebrate the unity of Zimbabweans regardless of political affiliation.

Only a few revellers that were near the stage pumped their fists into the air while others, in open defiance, raised open palms in a gesture of their support for the MDC-T.

Shamu, who was quick to pick the tension he had created, then attempted in vain to create calm by calling on them to rally behind popular Dynamos football club.

“Pamberi neDembare, neDembare yedu,” said Shamu after the Zanu PF chants had received jeers from the fans.

Some unknown people went as far as switching off lights in protest against the politicisation of the gala by Shamu and other Zanu PF officials.

Zesa employees were forced to stand guard at the power point during the entire night.

Event organiser, retired major Victor Mutambudzi played down the loss of power saying it was only a minor fault caused by lightning.

He however, denied the event was turned into a Zanu PF rally saying the people had loved officials that had come on the event.

ZBC presenters surprised many by wearing Zanu PF regalia on stage.

Sulu, Tryson in unity pact DENDERA music torch bearers Sulumani and Tryson Chimbetu lived up to the spirit of unity when they shared the stage at the Unity Gala held in Gokwe yesterday.

The gala, aimed at celebrating the 1987 Unity Accord, started on Friday night stretching up to the late hours of yesterday afternoon.

The pair, often rumoured not to see eye-to-eye, took the occasion to pour cold water to their purported beef when they performed together alongside Uncle Allan [Chimbetu] to form the much anticipated “Dendera United”. That was the turning point of the event as the two belted out Ndarangarira Gamba, clutching their hands together, much to the excitement of the fans.

They preached unity within their family and in the nation at large in a moving moment. One would have thought their fathers had risen from the dead.

They went on to belt the songs Kumakomo and Pane Asipo, raising an unprecedented bar for others to reach on a sunny morning.

The dance routines were choreographed to perfection and it was a truly sensational hour of non-stop Dendera as Sulumani took the mantle after his cousin’s display.

Tryson did likewise and joined Sulu but left midway through the performance.

The king of Sungura Alick Macheso, fresh from the release of his latest album Kwatakabva Mitunhu, did not disappoint as he showed why he is a crowd favourite with a well-oiled display.

Self-styled Prince of Sungura, First Farai dished out a spirited performance and the same can be said of crooner Jah Prayzah.

Other artistes who performed include Blessing Shumba, Chase Skuza, Cde Chinx, Peter Moyo, Shingisai Suluma, Agartha Murudzwa and Energy Mutodi.

By RANGANAI DZOTIZEI