Online Reporter
H-Metro Reporter
YESTERDAY our cover story revolved around a question —IS MUGOVE THE BEST ZIM SONG EVER? Predictably, it generated a wave of responses. Here are some of the views expressed by our readers:
Mugove is my all-time favourite, three decades down the line the song is still being played everywhere and all age groups dance to it. Chitekete is a good song instrumentally, however, lyrically low. Mugove is like an old wine hanzi ndoinenge yaakunaka. Mugove from day one to date ichirikungonaka, inyama – Selestinos Makonese
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Depends on how you listen to the songs. Mugove yakarira chaizvo, it is the best song ever no doubt about that. Inorema song iya, to me it reigns above all others ever produced. Kupedza nyaya, Mugove is the best song based on its celebrations and achievements while Chitekete is the most popular song for its feat at the Miss World stage. We need to approach these two aspects carefully, being popular and being celebrated. – Patrick Mundi
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It’s high time we do justice to Zhakata’s music by giving a proper analysis. In 1994 Mugove was voted Song of the Year on both radio and TV. In 1995 Nhamodzenyika ku Radio Unochemei ku TV, 1996 Upenyu Mutoro Ku TV. 2014 Dhonza Makomborero, 2016 Madam Boss. This guy is a lyrical and instrumental genius. I think his best song ever is Hupenyu Mutoro, rich in lyrics, melodious rhythms, play it today uzvihwire. But the best song of our times is CHITEKETE.– Oscar Chiwome
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What I know is Mugove outsold Chitekete just three years later and received more airplay than Chitekete. Chitekete is a bit overrated. It isn’t even Dembo’s best song, Mutadzi Ngaaregererwe is more timeless and gets more airplay, even Yave (zvinonetsa zveupenyu hakuna anogona kugadzirira nguva iripo) is miles better. -Kudah Nyamugara
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What made Mugove outstanding was what it achieved yakabva yachizotora ma marks akati wandei nekuva’The Best Video’ manje Chitekete yaingova audio isina mapikicha. —Taka Chipangura Zivengwa
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For me it’s Chitekete, the song remains the best ever. If you listen to the way the song was written yakakora muto. Yatinoti Shona yamandorokwati, “Pauri pane dandemutande, pane feso rinobaya zvandisina shangu ndokutora seiko”. Mugove has its own fair share but, however, Chitekete wins the battle without a doubt. Both artists did well and Zhakata was the youngest artist to achieve record sales with the song and album. —Ephraim Mutoro
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Facts about Mugove that cannot be ignored, Mugove is the most celebrated Zim song ever. Even Hupenyu Mutoro iri kupusher. You can find it kumashows, parties nema weddings neku TikTok as evidence. Mugove Challenge has gone beyond African borders, being celebrated by different races to an extent of its rhythm is being played on marimba instruments at schools in countries like Zim, Malawi, Kenya and Mozambique. Mugove sold more than 120,000 copies whereas Chitekete was on 100,000. Mugove TikTok challenge has more 21.9 million plays than any of Zim songs ever. Mugove resonates with even ama 2000 as witnessed by the Mugove challenge. Whilst Chitekete is hyped on media, Mugove is moving like a just released hit on the ground. – Wisdom Chitty
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Mugove will always be prophetic, so it lasts and lasts. The words of a prophet will forever linger. Zimbabwe’s best of all-time. There is nothing like the best song ever, generations differ and tastes differ. Some say Mugove, some say Mamvemve, some say Chitekete, some say dzemazuvano. If we say MUGOVE is the best it doesn’t mean that we hate Dembo, or what, but the truth is Mugove is better than Chitekete and Dembo was better than Zhakata, simple. —Takemore Julujulu
Frankiel Mwaparadza
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If I had to pick one song regarded as the “Best Ever” Zimbabwean hit song, it will definitely be “Chitekete” by Leonard Dembo because of its lasting popularity and cultural impact.
Look at how many people still love it three decades later. If you tell me whether you prefer older classics or newer hits. I can’t say the same for Mugove, although it remains a hit, it never scaled the same heights as Chitekete. — Goodhusband Freddy Shanya
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Zhakata leads overally, he is the only Zim musician with a well-polished album — Mupendero Wenguva – released in 2023. Most of his songs have gone beyond the 100 000 YouTube views. When it comes to stage performance vanoziva wanoti Zhakata anoridza zviri paCD. Zhakata’s stage performance is par excellence.
Undoubtedly Zhakata is the wordsmith of our time. Nobody can beat Zhakata when it comes to song composition. The popularised style of playing bass guitar whilst other instruments are on pause (known as razor wire) was borrowed from the song Mugove. The style has become a trademark of the giant Alick Macheso. —Wisdom Chitty.
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The song Mugove is a hit to people with the right mindset who think about their future, that song remains relevant in daily living. – Sachie Sachie
Mathew Masinge