“Since Independence, Chitungwiza has managed to produce most of the best talent that has impacted the whole nation and abroad,” said Chitungwiza North legislator Godfrey Sithole.
That alone speaks volumes on why special emphasis has to be placed on improving the town’s infrastructure and facilities, which assist budding artists.
Directly or indirectly, the dormitory town has continued to produce some of the big names that have made it in the arts industry ranging from visual, fine and performing arts.
To date, the town boasts of icons like the late “Mr Chitungwiza” John Chibadura, Marshal Munhumumwe, Cephas Mashakada, the Godfather of gospel music Mechanic Manyeruke, Baba naAmai Charamba, Alick Macheso and his lecturer Nicholas Zakaria, rapper Maskiri, Vimbai Zimuto, Lady Squanda, dancehall chanter Dadza D and man of the moment, Michael Mahendere, to mention just a few.
The creative side has people like Dominic Benhura, Johnson Zuze, Washington Msonza, Tonderai Sowa, Shepherd Madzikatire and Tonderai Marezva.
On the television screen, artist like the late actress Annie Nhira who played Vimbai on studio 263, Mutiro wafadza and comedian Bonzo were all from Chitungwiza.
Short films specialist “Dhafu” is arguably one of the best actress in the game at the moment.
“Chitungwiza has had a lot of prominent artists who have done a lot of amazing works be it sculptors, actors and musicians.
“We can be an arts and culture hub if revalant authorities put in place policies, facilities and infrastructure.
“It is unfortunate that, there seem to be inadequate support given to these artists by the government despite the fact that in 1985 parliament passed an act that specifically deals with the promotion of artist in Zimbabwe and the act established the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe”, explained Sithole.
Artists in Chitungwiza face challenges like lack of facilities such as galleries, theatre parks, exhibition and civic centres.
Chitungwiza arts centre was established by the government in 1990s, but it cannot accommodate all the artists.
The youthful legislator said he is lobbying for the cave where Chaminuka was buried to be a a national heritage site.
“Chitungwiza was named after a cave called Dungwiza where a spirit medium Chaminuka used to stay hence as a Member of Parliament, I have raised a motion in the form of a question to the Minister responsible for art industry to ensure that we built and rehabilitate the cave area and make it a historical site that can be used as a tourist attraction.
“It can be a well protected area which will house exhibitions for various artists and can also be used by educators and students for academic and recreational purposes thereby raising revenue for the local authority and the government”.
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