ZANU PF has gone a gear up in its bid to recapture the Makokoba constituency by organising a music concert to feature popular South African musician Freddie Gwala and Platform One.
Nduduzo Tshuma Staff Reporter
Twenty-five local artistes and groups are expected to feature at the concert scheduled for Stanley Square this weekend. Speaking to Southern Eye on the sidelines of a rally in Nguboyenja yesterday, Zanu PF candidate for Makokoba, Tshinga Dube, said the concert was a way of reviving the arts industry in the city.
“A big concert is on the cards this Saturday. We have invited Freddie Gwala from South Africa and Platform One,” he said. “They will perform with 25 other musical groups from Makokoba constituency and some prominent names like Jeys Marabini and Sandra Ndebele.
“Makokoba is the hub of arts in the region of Matabeleland and we want to revive the industry so that people can make a living from the arts and culture sector.”
The show being co-ordinated by socialite Babongile Sikhonjwa Moyo, is expected to feature the likes of Iyasa and Siyaya Arts, among other groups. Dube said besides the concert, he had sponsored seven soccer teams and a number of netball teams in the area.
“Sport is also an important component of this constituency, so we have sponsored a number of teams,” he said. “Today, we are going to hand over bicycles for a local cycling team that will in the future take part in competitions.”
He said if elected MP, he would refurbish Stanley Square that was last year granted heritage status by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority. “Stanley Square is very important to us because it gave birth to the liberation of this country,” Dube said. “It has also seen the emergence of quite a number of prominent artistes in the region.”
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Meanwhile, Zanu PF politburo member and Mines and Mining Development minister Obert Mpofu, who was guest of honour at the rally, appealed for unity among Zanu PF leaders if the party was to wrest some seats from the MDC-T.
“We may be sitting in the front, but we do not like each other. We divide people when we want positions,” he said. “We need to unite, but we cannot do that when in the leadership some of us are Zanu PF by day and Zapu by night.”
