Music fills the air as Zimbabweans elect new leader

Since Mugabe’s demise, Zimbabweans have enjoyed free speech and the right to congregate publicly. Speaking against the ruling ZANU-PF was taboo and would be met with serious consequences such as harassment, arrest and brutality by ZANU-PF militia and state security agents.

The culture of employing music ahead of elections in Zimbabwe has become increasingly trendy. This year, most political parties hired musicians to mobilise support ahead of the elections. The post-Mugabe era has also witnessed artists releasing new music and freely expressing their views about their preferred candidates.

During the Mugabe era, ZANU-PF’s involvement in the commissioning of propaganda music ushered a new form of censorship in the country by elbowing what it deemed “politically inappropriate music" from the airwaves. The ZANU-PF government played a pivotal role in commissioning several propaganda songs, albums and videos.

A long history of music propaganda

Music plays a special part in the political history of Zimbabwe. During the colonial era, musicians recorded songs meant to inspire black people to fight British rule. These songs faced rebuke by the white government, which knew all too well that such songs could cause an uprising. After Mugabe took over in 1980, he used the same propaganda mechanisms to silence musicians whose music opposed his leadership style. The artists who survived persecution released songs that praised Mugabe. Last 'Tambaoga' Chiangwa's land reform songs ‘Rambai Makashinga’ and ‘Sendekera’ dominated the airwaves in the run-up to the 2002 general elections. Those who would not pander to Mugabe went into exile. Perhaps the most well-known musician in exile is chimurenga musician Thomas Mapfumo who returned to Zimbabwe in April after fleeing to the US in 2005. 

While Tambaoga enjoyed his popularity, musicians such as former Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) MP Paul Madzore and Afro-jazz legend Oliver Mtukudzi were denied airplay. Through Madzore, the MDC-T released campaign songs and mashups that were played in bars and on mobile sound trucks. Madzore's albums, especially Mhenya Mauro (Change Is Inevitable), sold secretly for fear of intimidation, while Mtukudzi’s 2001 album Bvuma (Tolerance) was banned because of ‘Wasakara’, which pleads with an old man to accept that age has caught up with him. Many assume that the song was directed at Mugabe.

Post-Mugabe and Tsvangirai era

Fast-forward to November 2017 and Mugabe’s trusted lieutenant, Mnangagwa, had publicly condemned political violence and intimidation and urged Zimbabweans to unite. The move had given Zimbabweans freedom of expression with many political activists and musicians openly campaigning alongside their preferred candidates.

Up until today's polls, Zimbabwe has seen artists releasing songs affiliated to opposition parties, many of them criticising the ruling ZANU-PF.

“I think for me it points to a scenario where the driver is not there but the system is deeply rooted," Zimbabwean journalist and music critic Plot Mhako says. "Our culture, when it comes to politics, has shifted a bit when it comes to violence. But you find out that hero-worshipping, bootlicking and singing for your supper is still evident.

"Sandra Ndebele performed at a rally and endorsed Mnangagwa. She even said the government had done some amazing stuff for the arts since independence. When you look at such statements, it points to bootlicking and possibly someone who is still caught up in the gala era where they were getting a lot of hefty compensation after performing. It's freedom for the artists but I feel it’s a bit unfortunate because there are not singing for the people but for a certain person whose agenda is to win votes by hook or crook.”

New political music finds space in Zimbabwe

A hefty number of political songs have been released and used a rallies since campaigning began earlier this year. In April, Madzore endorsed Chamisa through the album Mhenyamauro Volume 11 Tiberekei Tifambe featuring ‘Ngainyururwe Mumvura Ngwena’ (Remove the Crocodile From the Water). Ngwena (Crocodile) is a nickname given to Mnangagwa because of his political shrewdness and intimidating tactics when dealing with political opponents. “Apart from motivating the masses, I also focus on marketing the party’s leading brand in Chamisa,” Madzore told New Zimbabwe in April.

Not to be left out, ZANU-PF MP and former deputy minister of justice Fortune Chasi was expected to release the 12-track No Violence in April. Zimbabwean media said the album would promote peace among young people ahead of the elections. However, there is no sign of the album online.

In June, upcoming local artist Ndori Malonza released ‘Mnangagwa’, taken from his 13-track debut First Time. The song "calls on the electorate to rally behind President Mnangagwa and vote for him," Malonza told a local publication. "I don’t believe in any other government than ZANU-PF.”

A month later, Zimbabwean dancehall artist Winky D dropped ‘Parliament’ – a song that challenges lawmakers and the current leadership to visit the country's townships to get a sense of the reality on the ground. Known for his indirect socio-political commentary, Winky D employs the “gafa chete chete” line in the song, which echoes the MDC Alliance’s election tagline, 'Chamisa Chete Chete'. This has left most people believing that the singer has endorsed the 40-year-old Chamisa.

“People can interpret the song in whatever way they want and we don’t have control over that,” Winky D’s manager, Jonathan Banda, said, adding that his artist remains apolitical while singing about the real issues affecting the poor.

Musical 'prophets'

Prince Noble and Blacperl ZW released a song that acts as an artistic debate about the ruling party and opposition, with the former representing Mnangagwa and the latter speaking on behalf of Chamisa. Released in mid-July, ‘After Ma Election’ (After Elections) is a song that criticises the socio-political ills in the country. The song is a reflection of the problems in Zimbabwean communities and goes on to project the election outcome, with Prince Noble saying that Mnangagwa's army connections would never concede defeat.

"The message was that as Zimbabweans we have been too partisan to make any progress," the rapper told Music In Africa. "While we might differ on how we view issues politically, we should always remember that we all submit to the same flag. We are Zimbabweans and we have to unite now more than before."