Monday, June 4, 2018

Police Band reminisce their partnership Cde Chinx



as revolutionary musician passes on

By Robert Zvidza
Spotting a beret which was a trademark, one would never mistake Cde Chinx whenever they met him in town. On giving his complements, he would give a salute and remark ‘Varidzi venyika” to mean the owners of the land. 

This is what the late revolutionary music giant and Liberation warfighter Dick Chingaira was commonly known for.

“Whether he knew you or not, when he is greeted, he would greet you as if he has known you for years,” said Assistant Inspector Onisimo Hwekete of ZRP Police Band who is one of the police officers who worked with the late musician and freedom fighter.

At the age of 61, CDE Chinx succumbed to cancer and died at a local hospital.

That booming voice which sang for the comrades during the second Chimurenga war and continued to inspire the nation during the third chimurenga when the nation embarked on the Fast Track Land Reform Programme will be greatly missed as it has been silenced by cruel death.

Indeed when death stalks, music stops to play.

The nation will miss this man and the ZRP family through the Police Band will forever miss the interactions with the humble and sociable man who took everything as it came.

The Outpost magazine traced the remaining members of the Police Band who worked with the late veteran freedom fighter and musician to recollect how the union between the two forces was merged.

This is the story.

In early March 2001, there was a graduation parade at Morris Depot which was officiated by the then Minister of Information and Publicity, Professor Jonathan Moyo.

After his speech, he proceeded to the Regimental Mess in Morris Depot to listen to what was then referred to as "tea music."

Like they have done always, the Police Band charmed the professor and he was convinced the band was the best band to partner Cde Chinx and Marko Sibanda for the Hondo Yeminda project.

According to some of the people involved in the project, the news was received with mixed feelings given the heightened political activity at that time when the farms where given back the blacks but somehow, the project was given thumbs up.

Cde. Chinx is said to have come along with two backing vocalists Emma Chihota and Ntombizodwa Mangota (his second wife). On the other hand Cde. Marko with whom the Police Band recorded one song- Amasimu sesiwathethe - came alone. 

The Police Band lineup was fronted by the then Assistant Inspector now Chief Inspector Elias Sungiso (bass guitar) the late Inspector Promise John Zvidande popularly known as Bla Kirks (keyboards /bass guitar), Gift Masinyani (tenor and alto sax), Assistant Inspector Onisimo Hwekwete (trumpet), Assistant Inspector Costa Songo (lead guitar), Harrison Mbewe (Rhythm guitar), Sergeant Major Noel Bakili (keyboards) and ex-sergeant Wellington Mareva (drums and percussion). Constables Emma Chihota, Ntombizodwa Mangota and the late Maud Mushowe provided backing vocals.

Of this cast only Hwekwete, Songo, Bakili are still with the band while the others have since transferred and others are late. Inspectors Weston Chimbudzi (Bass) and Pedzisayi Alfero would later join the team on tours and shows.

According to Ex-Sergeant Mareva it took one week to compose and perfect 20 songs and they later went to the studio (shed studios).

“We were under pressure to finish the project within the stipulated time.  Recording, mixing and mastering took exactly one and a half weeks. We used to sleep in the studio 24/7 and the producer Isaac Chirwa was very patient and he worked with the band well.  We sometimes had arguments in the studio but in the end we came to an agreement and that's how professional people work.  The end result was Hondo Yeminda Vol. 1 and 2,” said Ex-Sergeant Mareva in an interview.

Cde Chinx, Marko Sibanda and the singing cops pioneered Third Chimurenga in music.  It was dangerous during that time because opposition parties were on the rampage assaulting anybody who supported the land redistribution programme.  At one time it was reported that one of the vocalists on Hondo yeminda – Ntombizodwa - was badly beaten by a certain political party youths for appearing on television singing those revolutionary songs.

The late Andy Brown, The late Simon Chimbetu and Cdes Max Mapfumo and Sister Flame should also be given credit for coming  out in support of the Third Chimurenga through song.

After releasing the albums, the team traveled all over the country shooting videos, and that marked the beginning of history. Hondo Yeminda became an anthem and no song (revolutionary) came closer to this song in the 21st century.

That was Cde Chinx which the Police Band knew, an inspired musician whose compositions were prophetic, a brave comrade who did not shy away from what he believed. A motivator even on his hospital bed where he would try and remove the worry in those who visited him. His patriotism was never questionable; he remained straight forward in what he believed even when things were not that right.

The Deputy Director Music, Superintendent Taizivei Zinyandu said that Cde Chinx was good at composing music that had messages to the masses during the liberation war and after independence. He said as Police Band, they were grateful to the Commissioner General of Police for allowing them to work with the great comrade and musician.

“We are very proud to have been accorded the opportunity to work with him because we are part of the history that he made. He left us a legacy that we will pass on to the next generation. We are worried that there is no one like him anymore among our musicians, somebody who shares the same mind as him.

“He taught us the spirit of camaraderie, the virtues of patriotism, discipline, and loyalty which as a band continues to guide us at the moment. On behalf of the Director Music, Chief Superintendent Fungai Marange, the Police Band Family, and indeed my own behalf I would like to pass my condolences to the Chingaira family for the loss of a loving father. May his soul rest in peace,” said Supt Zinyandu. 

Yes Cde Chinx might not be with us today or forever but his works will live forever.




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