Protest music sold secretly

which was launched at MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s rally last month, has sold a massive 10,000 copies in one month, according to Madzore. He told The Zimbabwean he has tried to deliver his album to stores and radio stations, but none would take it.
To get a copy of Madzore’s music, fans go to the MDC Headquarters, Harvest House in central Harare, where they are secretly told where to obtain the album. The album costs the equivalent of US$1 for a tape and US$2.50 for a CD.
Madzore, a trade unionist and MDC activist, has been arrested twice, beaten and tortured by police. More recently, he was targeted in what he said was an assassination attempt.
Madzore, who attributes the government’s animosity to both his roles, MDC activist and protest singer, said he had never tried to hold a public concert because of his fear that police would intervene violently.
His music is however amazingly popular at MDC rallies, having been the background music blaring from a PA system at the opposition party’s 7th anniversary at Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfields two weeks ago.
Madzore aims much of his commentary at the presidency of Mugabe, whose 26-year rule of Zimbabwe has been corrupt and violent. Ironically, Madzore’s songs seem to appeal across the political divide because they speak to human rights causes, the nostalgic economic hardships of the poor in the ghetto, and because they are musically distinct and often danceable.
Combined with his deep, resonant voice, melodic female backing vocalists and a band that features drums, saxophones, guitars and other instruments, Madzore’s music is more a celebration and reaffirmation of principles than a series of mournful laments.
His most famous protest song is Mhenya Mauro, a Shona riddle that contextually translates, “change is inevitable.” The song is a blunt warning to Mugabe that the end is nigh. Madzore in the song draws parallels between Mugabe and other fallen African dictators such as Sani Abacha, Idi Amin, Charles Taylor who he says all ended up in misery one way or the other.
“What will be the end of all this?” he asks in the song, which in essence is about Mugabe’s abuse of power and riches at the expense of the weak and poor.
In another song, Handidi Nenyika Yangu (I will jealously guard my country), Madzore intimates that Zimbabweans were better off under the colonial rule of Ian Smith.
“What have people benefited from your liberation struggle Gushungo?” sings Madzore. Gushungo is Mugabe’s totem.
Then there is Mitsetse, which means “queues.” The song laments the commonplace queues in the country, the result of acute shortages of most basic commodities. The song urges Zimbabweans to rise against the Mugabe dictatorship and launch street protests against his misrule.
Gumba Zvese, which loosely translates to “grabbing everything”, is a song that condemns the government’s often violent agrarian reform programme, which has wrecked the agricultural sector and has plunged the country into an unprecedented food crisis. The song says the land reform has benefited President Mugabe’s cronies. The song also laments the grab of businesses by Zanu (PF) chefs that has left Zimbabweans suffering from serious commodity shortages.
The song also condemns the brutal army-led Operation Murambatsvina that wrecked more than 700,000 lives last year.
Other songs such as Ndiye Mambo, Ndomudana, Taura are songs that extol the virtues of Tsvangirai as an opposition leader. The songs urge the MDC leader to remain resolute in the face of concerted efforts by the Central Intelligence Organisation to cause disunity in the opposition party. The songs point to the October 12 split and the Ari-Ben Menashe saga.
Madzore, who is married to Melody and has four children, says that he is not worried for his safety and tells The Zimbabwean “I will continue telling it like it is.”
“I don’t fear anybody,” he said, adding he envisages a dispensation where his protest music will be played on national radio.
Protest music is banned on Zimbabwe’s predominantly state-owned media.
The muting of protest music is aimed at banning discussion on Zimbabwe’s shrinking economy, widespread hunger, an HIV infection rate that is among the world’s highest and the frequently harassment of opposition leaders by government.
The airwaves, meanwhile, are filled with endless hours of propaganda songs praising Mugabe and his ruling party, Zanu (PF).