By Problem Masau
Zimbabwe’s rich musical history is littered with musicians who served prison sentences, but on release became successful in their careers. Duduzile Tracy Manhenga’s case isnot unique, with several musicians driving every day without a driver’s licence.
Last year, Taurai Mandebvu was fined for driving without a licence and the list goes on. While Dudu’s case serves as an example to musicians that there are no sacred cows in the justice system, this must not be the end for one of Zimbabwe’s most sought-after jazz musicians.
Simon Chimbetu and Paul Matavire went through the same predicament, but for them it was just a setback not the end of the world. This should also be the same for Dudu.
Chopper’s music career was interrupted by his four-year imprisonment from 1989 after being convicted of car theft. He was released in 1994 and immediately shot to the top with “Pachipamwe”.
The song “Saina” off “Pachipamwe” was a favourite of many at weddings and parties. He went on to release his highly successful albums such as “Survival” (1997) and “Lullaby” the following year.
One of Chimbetu’s successes was being able to reclaim his top spot even after being jailed for such a long time. Chimbetu reclaimed his fan base and soon people were dancing to “Dzandipedza Mafuta”, “Tenda” and “Pane Asipo”.
The late Paul “Dr Love” Matavire, also found himself on the wrong side of the law. Matavire and his co-accused Peter Mabvuwa took turns to rape a disabled woman from Chiwundura Communal Lands in October 1989.
Both pleaded not guilty to the charge, but were convicted as charged by provincial magistrate Mr Lawrence Kamocha. Mabvuwa, also a member of the Jairos Jiri Band, was convicted on two counts of rape and jailed for eight years.
Two years were, however, suspended conditionally for five years. Matavire was released in August 1992 after serving 13 months, thanks to a presidential pardon. Matavire later announced his return with albums “Akanaka Akarara”, “Gakanje” and “Fadza Customer” among others.
It is, however, his song “Back From College” that showed that the musician has not lost his touch while incarcerated, but rather used his time to dig deeper in his lyrical database.
So while it is a setback for Dudu to be incarcerated especially during the ongoing October World Music Festival where she had become a star performer, life will go on once she is out.
According to psychiatrist Arnold Matamba, prison term gives people ample time to be creative, ponder and help those who were wronged to heal.
Dudu cast a lonely figure when fellow musicians visited the Chikurubi Female Prison on last Wednesday with one prisoner saying she was still to come to terms with her incarceration.
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service Commissioner-General Retired Major-General Paradzai Zimondi encouraged her to be strong and move on with life.
“I heard she is not taking it lightly, but that is life, she should move on. In fact, I want her to be part of the inmates who will perform at Africa Prisons and Correctional Day this Saturday (past week),” he said.
Manhenga was slapped with an effective 18-month jail term after she was convicted on her own guilty plea over a March 15, 2010 road traffic accident in which a motorcyclist was killed. The singer pleaded guilty to culpable homicide and driving with a learner driver’s licence without supervision. The Herald
