Cynthia Bizure Sithole: Zim music’s Mother Theresa
By Showbiz Writer
When the chips are down, she has always remained steadfast ‘chipping’ in in her own small way but making huge impact in Zimbabwean music.
Her name is Cynthia Bizure Sithole, owner of Jan Jam clothing shops in Harare.
Very little is known of her besides her generosity especially to Zimbabwean artistes and that’s only because she has kept a steadfast lid on her private life.
Not that there is anything out of place there; but that is just Cynthia.
On stepping into her shop one would be greeted by a wide smile; and often a hug and then: “Hesi mwana wamai vangu”.
This is treatment that several musicians and people from different walks of life would relate to.
While there are other names that have done equally good or even more than her for local musicians, here is one that can easily be regarded the Mother Theresa of local music.
She has dressed the bulk of Zimbabwean artistes and even Jamaican artiste Jah Cure but recently went old school and dressed Sungura giants Madzibaba Nicholas Zakaria and Alick Macheso.
Pictures of the two artistes in sleek suits have been doing rounds seemingly spitting the notion that Sungura musicians are scruffy.
While the duo can easily afford whatever it is that they got, it is Cynthia’s spirit that makes it wholesome.
Speaking to Showbiz recently Cynthia said she has always wanted to support local initiatives.
“I can’t really say it has helped us but l love partnering for a good cause obviously it does come with mileage because the artistes we work with are brands also on their own. We have also worked with big international artistes like Jah Cure,” she said.
On dressing Macheso and Madzibaba she said it was special because of the two artistes’ stature as gurus in the trade.
Starting off with men’s one men’s shop five years ago, Cynthia said she was surprised that it took her five years to realise that ladies clothes sold faster than men’s.
“The ladies store is great; l actually don’t know how it took me five years to realise that women buy more than men. l should have opened a ladies store the same time l opened the men’s,” she said.
She said however her business like most has also been affected by the state of affairs in the country.
“Business is difficult at the moment because the main systems are working against progress but l will soldier on and wait for the better day to come,” she said.
