Zimbabwe Musicians Union Appoints Provincial Committee Members
The Zimbabwe Musicians Union (ZIMU) has taken a significant step towards bolstering its support for musicians across the country.
In a move aimed at promoting, defending, and safeguarding the interests of its members, ZIMU has unveiled the names of provincial committee members in four key provinces.
These committee members were chosen through a rigorous voting process, a culmination of workshops that have been held in Bulawayo (Bulawayo Province), Gweru (Midlands Province), Mutare (Manicaland), and Masvingo (Masvingo Province) since the start of the year.
Local musicians played an active role in selecting these representatives, with valuable guidance from ZIMU’s leadership, including President Edith Katiji and Women’s Desk Chairperson Chioneso Rutsito.
According to Katiji, this decentralized approach to governance of musical activities at the local level promises to bring significant benefits to ZIMU’s members across the provinces.
These committees will be instrumental in addressing the unique challenges faced by musicians in their respective communities.
Katiji expressed her excitement about this development, stating, “We are in exciting times at ZIMU.”
In addition to these four provinces, ZIMU also conducted workshops in Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland South.
While the Zimbabwe Musicians Union committee members have been appointed, logistical challenges have left some positions unfilled.
To address this, an additional workshop is scheduled to take place in Chitungwiza later in the year, as part of the 2023 calendar.
Moreover, workshops will be held in the remaining provinces in the coming year, with specific dates set to be announced soon.
Rodney Ruwende, the Communication and Marketing Manager of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ), expressed the council’s support for ZIMU’s grassroots initiatives.
He noted that the program aligns with NACZ’s broader mission of promoting professionalism, digitization, and industrialization in Zimbabwe’s Cultural and Creative Sector (CCS).
The newly appointed members are eager to contribute to the betterment of Zimbabwe’s music industry.
Khulekani Moyo, the Secretary for the Midlands province committee, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “I am very excited with the existence of ZIMU in the Midlands Chapter. At least we now have a voice that will stand for the artists. Artists had for long suffered from stigmatization and isolation. At so many times they have been oppressed because of poor protection and vulnerability in the industry. It is time now that ZIMU will handle artists’ warfare. We thank our president ‘mhamha bass’ for reviving the union in the province and in the entire country at large. Already we have started to be engaged in mass artist recruitment as our President told us to do.”
Zimbabwe Musicians Union provincial committee members
Bulawayo
- Beke Thorne Sibanda – Chairperson
- Oscar Greens – Vice Chairperson
- Nkosiphile Sibanda – Secretary
- Sibonginkosi Sibanda – Treasurer
Midlands
- Dr Claudio Chipendo – Chairperson
- Joseph Tawanda Nhara – Vice Chairman
- Khulekani F Moyo – Secretary
- Adam Jeketera – Treasurer
- Ngqabutho Mlilo – Coordinator
- Lillian Nhara – Artist Welfare
- Michael Sakala – Committee Member
- Praise Chenyedzai – Committee Member
Masvingo
- Dr Phainos Matura – Chairperson
- Priscilla Chiputu – Vice Chairperson
- Ratidzo Wekare – Secretary
- Praise Zinhuku – Treasurer
- Tafara Pande – Coordinator
- Taonga Mutenanhene – Welfare officer
- Reuben matutu – Committee Member
- Henry manirudzi – Committee Member
- Norman Hungwe – Committee Member
Manicaland
- Kudakwashe Muchinguri – Chairperson
- Lionel Muparutsa – Vice Chairperson
- Masiiwa Mbutsa – Secretary
- Veronica Matondora – Treasurer
- Seymour Gijimani – Committee Member
- Melania Fidze – Committee Member
- Tonderai Kashiri – Committee Coordinator
- Tadiwanashe Sigodho – Committee Member
With these committees now in place, Zimbabwe’s music industry looks poised for positive changes, as local musicians gain a stronger voice in shaping their future.
Zimbabwe Musicians Union Appoints Provincial Committee Members
