Cde Chinx Chingaira dies

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Revolutionary singer and songwriter Dick “Cde Chinx” Chingaira Makoni has died.

Revolutionary singer and songwriter Dick “Cde Chinx” Chingaira Makoni has died.

by Staff Reporter

The late Chinx Chingaira
The late Chinx Chingaira

He was 64.

Cde Chinx was confirmed dead at 10pm at West End Hospital in Harare on Friday after a long battle with blood cancer (leukaemia).

The Vanhu Vose VemuAfrica singer was born in Rusape on September 27 in 1952 and his music career dates back to the precolonial era

In 1975 Cde Chinx crossed into Mozambique where he joined the liberation struggle at the age of 20 years.

Continuing his passion for music he joined the Zanu PF People’s Choir whose purpose was to compose and perform war cries for the freedom fighters.

After independence in 1980, Cde Chinx continued writing and recording songs with liberation struggle inclined lyrics at some point engaging other musicians like the late Andy Brown and the famous Ilanga group which he was co-founder of.

Apart from music, he also pursued acting and in 1996 he starred in the movie Flame — a film depicting the war of liberation.

In the early 1990s his song Maruza Vapambe Pfumi got recognition from Mnet Africa for the best soundtrack in the movie Flame in which he played a major role.

His colourful career saw him winning numerous awards, including the National Arts Merit Awards and the Silver Jubilee Award.

In the early 2000s Cde Chinx through his music backed by the police band was very vocal in the agrarian reform releasing songs like Hondo Yeminda.

Earlier this year, he defied ill-health and released a seven-track album titled Good Zimbabwe with the assistance of Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Civic Education.

Cde Chinx is survived by two wives — Patricia and Ntombizodwa — and several children.

Mourners are gathered at the Chingaira home in Sentosa, Harare.