Daniel Chigunwe
SHAMVA is increasingly harnessing the power of music and entertainment to confront social challenges affecting young people.
The recent Shamva Zimdancehall Cup Clash, hosted in the district, provided a platform for talent identification, youth engagement and the fight against drug and substance abuse.
Organised by the ZANU PF Shamva District Coordinating Committee (DCC) Secretary for Youth Affairs Cde Ryan Dhokwani last night, the event brought together aspiring Zimdancehall artistes and established industry figures in a celebration of local talent and creative expression
Beyond the entertainment, the initiative carried a strong social message, particularly in a district where gold mining and artisanal mining activities have become important sources of livelihood for many young people.
The prevalence of drug and substance abuse, alongside other social ills confronting mining communities, has made youth empowerment and constructive recreational activities increasingly important.
Cde Dhokwani said the competition was part of deliberate efforts to provide young people with meaningful platforms to express themselves, develop their abilities and pursue productive opportunities.
“Shamva is a mining district with a significant number of young people involved in artisanal mining activities,” he said.
“While these activities provide livelihoods, we are also conscious of the social challenges confronting our young people, particularly drug and substance abuse.
“We believe that engaging them through music, sport and other constructive activities is one way of redirecting their energy towards productive pursuits.”
Cde Dhokwani said the competition went beyond entertainment, providing an opportunity to discover and nurture emerging musical talent within the district.
“The Shamva Zimdancehall Cup Clash was not just about entertainment,” he said.
“It was a deliberate platform to bring young people together, identify their talents and demonstrate that they can use their creativity to build meaningful futures.
“We want our young people to recognise that their talents can become opportunities.”
The participation of celebrated Zimdancehall figures – DJ Fantan, Etherton B and Godfather Templeman, who moderated the competition, added considerable industry experience to the event.
Cde Dhokwani said involving established music personalities was important in connecting grassroots talent with opportunities in the mainstream entertainment industry.
“Having established figures such as DJ Fantan, Etherton B and Godfather Templeman on board was particularly important,” he said.
“Their experience and understanding of the music industry gave our upcoming artistes an opportunity to showcase their abilities before people who can guide, mentor and potentially open doors for them.”
The talent identification component speaks to the broader national agenda of leaving no one and no place behind, ensuring that young people in communities outside major urban entertainment centres also have opportunities to participate in the creative economy.
“Our vision is to ensure that no young person is left behind simply because they come from a rural or mining community,” said Cde Dhokwani.
“Talent is everywhere and our responsibility as youth leaders is to create platforms where that talent can be discovered, nurtured and given an opportunity to shine.”
