News / National
LMG Choir release a six track album titled, 'Umbuso omtsha'
01 Aug 2011 at 18:29hrs | Views
Nhlanhla Ngwenya, the Director of the Zimbabwe chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zimbabwe) said the release of a fresh batch of pro-Zanu-PF jingles shows just how urgently media reforms are needed in Zimbabwe.
The Light Machine Gun (LMG) Choir launched a new batch of music this weekend. Information Minister Webster Shamu, who is also a key Zanu-PF executive, praised their music and claimed they were revolutionary songs and not party jingles, SW Radio reported on Monday.
Shamu says revolutionary songs are part of the legacy of the heroic people of Zimbabwe who fought oppression and managed to reclaim the country's land.
However, a media expert said these are indeed party jingles presented as songs.
Ngwenya was quoted saying that Zanu-PF is couching these jingles as songs. But the underlying motive is to market Zanu-PF before the electorate. "They have done it in such a clever way that they are masquerading these jingles as songs" said Ngwenya.
The jingles, guised as 'songs', make their way to popular music charts and are played continuously, he added.
"It clearly shows why there is an urgent need to insulate the ZBC from political interference and turn it into a genuine public broadcaster that will reflect all Zimbabweans and not that of one single party," Ngwenya said.
LMG Choir, whose trade mark song is Emoyeni Kubuhlungu, played a pivotal role in the struggle for independence through its songs that helped in disseminating revolutionary messages, ideology, policy and principles.
Minister Shamu, who is also the Patron of the Zimbabwe Union of Musicians said the LMG Choir remains the embodiment of revolutionary values and was a system of political education and a uniting force during the country's pursuit for independence.
Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, who is the Patron of the LMG Choir, said the group's music was part of the national heritage which represents the image of the late Father Zimbabwe, Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, whose legacy still lives on.
The six track album titled, 'Umbuso omthsha,' has hit songs such as Asimbongeni ubaba uNkomo, Sasihlezi egangeni and the title track, among others.
The LMG Choir was the official ZIPRA musical group and was formed in 1978 in Zambia.
The Global Political Agreement (GPA) has called for the media sector to be reformed in the country, but the coalition government has been dragging its feet over the matter. The state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation (ZBC) is still taking a pro-Robert Mugabe stance, and continues to play jingles which support Zanu-PF's agenda.
The Light Machine Gun (LMG) Choir launched a new batch of music this weekend. Information Minister Webster Shamu, who is also a key Zanu-PF executive, praised their music and claimed they were revolutionary songs and not party jingles, SW Radio reported on Monday.
Shamu says revolutionary songs are part of the legacy of the heroic people of Zimbabwe who fought oppression and managed to reclaim the country's land.
However, a media expert said these are indeed party jingles presented as songs.
Ngwenya was quoted saying that Zanu-PF is couching these jingles as songs. But the underlying motive is to market Zanu-PF before the electorate. "They have done it in such a clever way that they are masquerading these jingles as songs" said Ngwenya.
The jingles, guised as 'songs', make their way to popular music charts and are played continuously, he added.
"It clearly shows why there is an urgent need to insulate the ZBC from political interference and turn it into a genuine public broadcaster that will reflect all Zimbabweans and not that of one single party," Ngwenya said.
LMG Choir, whose trade mark song is Emoyeni Kubuhlungu, played a pivotal role in the struggle for independence through its songs that helped in disseminating revolutionary messages, ideology, policy and principles.
Minister Shamu, who is also the Patron of the Zimbabwe Union of Musicians said the LMG Choir remains the embodiment of revolutionary values and was a system of political education and a uniting force during the country's pursuit for independence.
Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, who is the Patron of the LMG Choir, said the group's music was part of the national heritage which represents the image of the late Father Zimbabwe, Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, whose legacy still lives on.
The six track album titled, 'Umbuso omthsha,' has hit songs such as Asimbongeni ubaba uNkomo, Sasihlezi egangeni and the title track, among others.
The LMG Choir was the official ZIPRA musical group and was formed in 1978 in Zambia.
The Global Political Agreement (GPA) has called for the media sector to be reformed in the country, but the coalition government has been dragging its feet over the matter. The state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation (ZBC) is still taking a pro-Robert Mugabe stance, and continues to play jingles which support Zanu-PF's agenda.
Source - New Ziana
