I need your help: Chipanga

Weekender Reporter
SOCIAL commentator, musician and Messiah Apostolic Prophetical Inspired People’s Institution president Hosiah “Kwachu Kwachu” Chipanga has called for help from the legal fraternity, fans and human rights organisations to realise “money that he worked for” in his music career alleging that recording companies robbed him of his royalties.

Chipanga fingered Gramma Records and Record and Tape Promotions for being inconsiderate and refusing to give him his dues yet they were selling his music.
When contacted for comment, a Gramma Records official known as Vore said: “I know Hosiah Chipanga’s issue, but I cannot discuss contractual issues with the Press. I can’t divulge anything especially through the phone.”

The emotional musician is one of the most consistent songwriters in Zimbabwe and boasts of 24 albums to date, but he has a few assets to his name, a situation he blamed recording companies for reaping what they did not sow.

He took his troubles to popular social media Facebook begging for help from anyone who can help him, at least, to get something from the “heartless” and “inconsiderate” recording companies.

“I joined Record and Tape Promotion in 1990 and when it closed years later, Metro Studios promised and agreed to sell my albums.
“They did but I never got anything from them. I later jumped to Last Power Studios, but it also closed and left me in the dark. Of late, the album Gushungo has been selling like hot cakes in surrounding countries like Namibia and people from that side were flocking to Zimbabwe to get bulk copies (from Gramma) to sell in Namibia.

“They had not converted the album from tapes to CDs and I had to submit a few copies I had for duplication.
“Since then, I have not received anything and it’s painful. I visited them and I was shocked to hear someone from Gramma saying they would not give me any cent because Metro was as well selling my albums, so there were some legal logistics that they would need to do to sort things out first. I was so angered that I walked out fearing that I would get physical and end up regretting later. Look how cruel these recording companies can be sometimes,” said the dejected Mushandi anotambura hit-maker, in an interview.

Chipanga, who is now 60 years old and stands as one of the few oldest musicians in the country, said he was contemplating taking the legal route as well as seeking the help of Zimbabwe Union of Musicians patron and Minister of Information Communication Technology, and Postal and Courier Services Webster Shamhu for help.
“Anyone who is willing to help is welcome. I am in deeply pained,” said Chipanga.