MAKONI – Veteran protest musician Hosiah Chipanga is now seemingly back in the good graces of the ruling party, Zanu PF, after he was gifted $US500 during a recent party function where he was asked to sing in praise of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
In a video circulating on social media, Chipanga can been seen being paraded in front of Zanu PF leaders, including the Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere.
The event was at Dewedza High School, Makoni West for the launch of the Presidential War Vets Fund, Boreholes and Rural Housing Schemes.
Chipanga is filmed being gifted US$500 by the master of ceremonies, who highlights the fact that the money is from President Mnangagwa.
LIVE PERFOMANCE FROM HOSIAH CHIPANGA .
SONG TITTLE : TAMBA IRIKURIRA . pic.twitter.com/OowLhhCRoB
— Christine Charumbira (@chrissy10charu) February 15, 2025
Chipanga is then asked to sing for his gift, before the MC announces that he will be invited to perform at this year’s independence gala.
“He is the one in charge of the entertainment at the Independence celebrations and he has decided that this year, Hosiah Chipanga, you’ll be performing in Gokwe,” said the MC.
Only a year ago, Chipanga was expressing his dismay at being excluded from the Independence Gala, an event that has come to be associated with the country’s ruling party, which has an iron grip on the organisation of all national functions.
Chipanga, who featured prominently on the list of local musicians who graced previous Uhuru celebrations before his brush with authorities for his rabid criticism, was excluded from the event last year.
The ‘Hapana Dhiri’ composer, fumed on his Facebook page, as he lamented that government was deliberately sidelining him at the showpiece taking place in his hometown, Buhera, Manicaland Province due to his criticism targeted at the so-called “Second Republic” led by Mnangagwa.
“I am deeply saddened and hurt my friends, family and fans. Besides me being a musician born in Zimbabwe l won’t be performing with fellow countrymen at the 44th lndependence celebration which are scheduled for Murambinda in Manicaland my home soil because the organisers, the Ministry of Information said l am a government critic,” said Chipanga at the time.
