Where are fellow artistes when you need them?

Jonathan Mbiriyamveka Entertainment Reporter
The lack of solidarity within the music fraternity is quite appalling, to say the least. Perhaps, it has more to do with the lack of unionism among artistes such that they don’t realise an injury to one is an injury to all like the old English adage says. The only time that we see the Zimbabwe Union of Musicians coming out is when an artiste dies or at a funeral. Outside this, the ZUM goes into oblivion.
When was the last time ZUM organised a music gig that featured all the musicians? And why is it difficult for musicians through ZUM to come together? Is it voluntary to be a member of ZUM, if not, what is it that the union has done for its members.

On Tuesday, it was exactly two years since Tongai Moyo affectionately known by his totem Dhewa passed on and already individuals and some enterprising promoters saw it fit to organise shows to commemorate the life and times of “Murozvi Mukuru”.

What most music fans shudder to ask; is there need for ZUM when it remains silent on issues that affect its members.
Of course, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe is partly to blame since it is the regulatory body for all the arts. But what is the NACZ doing to ensure sound unionism and rejuvenated arts bodies?

So far there is little that points to a serious organisation with the music fraternity and perhaps this is why musicians are so              divided.
The point is when afro-jazz star Dudu Manhenga was slapped with an effective 18-month jail term after she was convicted on her own guilty plea over a March 15, 2010, road traffic accident in which a motorcyclist was killed, few musicians if any attended the court session.
The singer pleaded guilty to culpable homicide and driving with a learner driver’s licence without supervision.

Harare magistrate Ms Blessing Murwisi sentenced Manhenga to a 24-month jail term and suspended six months for five years on condition that she does not commit a similar offence.

The Color Blu songstress was also fined US$300 (or three months in prison) for driving without supervision.
An additional six-month jail term was wholly suspended on condition that she does not drive without supervision for the next five years.
In passing sentence, Ms Murwisi considered that Manhenga was a female offender with four children.

Of all the big names that you could think of, it was the television and radio personality Tinopona Katsande who stood by Dudu at her time of need.

Don’t get it twisted, it is all very well that no one is above the law, but the least the musicians could do was to be at the courts and give Dudu and her family moral support.

Of course, the court ruled and we all agree Dudu erred, but at least musicians should have shown solidarity that even when chips are down they remain united.

Imagine if all the big names had gathered outside the courts not to demonstrate or influence the court’s decision, but to show their sympathy towards a fellow musician. That could have painted a different picture of how musicians relate to each other.

It is saddening to note that nowadays musicians seem to be more divided than they were a few years ago ever since there was no change of its executive.

A rejuvenated union will be ideal for pushing the issues affecting musicians and perhaps the time is now.