President tribute song hits airwaves

James Dendera and the Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle Chimurenga crew have released a track dedicated to President Emmerson Mnangagwa as a way of showing their gratitude to the leader who has the peoples’ interests at heart.

The song, titled Arikutonga Mwana Wevhu was released last month and is receiving airplay on local radio stations including National FM.
In an interview, band leader James Dendera shared that the song serves as praise for the President and to show their support for him.

“In 2014, I started singing Chimurenga songs in support of the ruling party Zanu-PF. This year, we came up with the song Arikutonga Mwana Wevhu, meaning the President is in charge. The song supports the President and the new currency, ZiG. We are fully behind the President, the ZiG and the Zanu-PF Government as Bulawayo youths,” Dendera said.

He said the song is educative and tackles various themes.
“The song addresses several issues. We looked at the issue of jealousy, as some people are jealous of our President. We want people to realise that our President is a visionary leader and all he does is for our benefit as a nation.

We also addressed the issue of ZiG. Some people spread false stories, whereas the President introduced the currency for our benefit as the people of Zimbabwe.”
Dendera shared plans to tour various parts of the country promoting the song.

“We’ll go around performing the song in all the provinces and all the money we make will be re-invested into the community. I’ve previously donated to Mpilo Hospital after the success of my previous album, helping the elderly living with chronic diseases to get their medication,” he added.

He further highlighted that they will release a Ndebele version of the song.

“We’re also working on producing another song dedicated to our mother, the First Lady. The song will feature older women specifically.”
Menson Ndlela Matutu said he partnered with the Chimurenga crew as he saw it as a good mobilising technique.