Mbare Chimurenga Choir
The Mbare Chimurenga Choir is a Mbare based music group which consists of forty members. The group made headlines in the music circles with songs such as "Nyatsoteerera unzwe kutonga" and "Simukai tiverengane". The group has been in the music circles for quite some time and consists of both males and females. There were also some music videos that the group came up with to go with their songs and they also received widespread airplay on ZBC TV. The group rose to prominence through their energetic dances which were a common characeristic of their videos It is said the formation of the Mbare Chimurenga Choir was the brainchild of Elizabeth Madzimure Bwanya. The group is registered as the Mbare Chimurenga Choir and its main goal is to promote the revolutionary spirit. In the alleged cases of factionalism that rocked the revolutionary party, the Mbare Chimurenga Choir was also caught up in the ensuing wave of suspensions and re admissions that took place. It was reported that ZANU PF leaders such as Tendai Savanhu were at the forefront of fanning factionalism and divisions within the ZANU PF party. At the instigation of Tendai Savanhu, it is said that some 31 members of the Mbare Chimurenga Choir were suspended from all party activities. The members of the group claimed that they had been pushed out through the connivance of Cde Tendai Savanhu, Cde Onismo Gore and Ambassador Amos Midzi, who accused them of selling out yet it was all in a bid to propel the Pamela Tsvanhu-led Mbare Chimurenga Choir. After the suspension of the members from the party, it took another disciplinary hearing in which the suspended members were cleared of all charges. The Acting Disciplinary Committee Chairperson, Shadreck Mashayamombe is said to have noted that re-admission of the members is in line with strengthening the party following the sound advice from the First Lady, Dr Grace Mugabe to deal decisively with factionalism. The other suspensions that had been effected were also nullified on the basis that they defied a politiburo directive to halt all suspensions until further notice. After initially having launched their music journey with a group membership of sixty seven band members, the group witnessed a split in which the splinter group walked away and went on to continue using the name Mbare Chimurenga Choir. There were accusations and counter accusations of misappropriating the funds of the group. The splinter group was led by Pamela Tswanhu. The matter also spilled to the courts with the other group led by Elizabeth Bwanya suing the other group for using the name which did not belong to them. Bwanya sought to have the Tswanhu led group to be barred from using the name but the matter was dismissed after Bwanya failed to turn up for the court hearing. The feud between the two groups was said to be so bad such that there were allegations of one group attempting to disconnect power when the other group was about to go on stage.
Chimurenga