By Mtandazo Dube

Cde Chinx (Dickson Chingaira)’s woes of shuttling between the dormitory towns of Chitungwiza and Norton for his two wives are over — thanks to the Zimbabwe Music Awards (Zima).

The singer, famed for his liberation war songs, was on Wednesday night accorded the chairman’s award, which came with a four-bedroomed house in Harare’s leafy Mabelreign suburb.

Cde Chinx, who has two wives, Patricia and Ntombizodwa, is now a proud new owner of a house with two master bedrooms, which according to Zima chairman, Joseph Nyadzayo, are meant to accommodate both his wives.

Patricia, the first wife, lives in Chitungwiza while Ntombizodwa owns a flat in Norton. The new house is set to bring the two wives, who claim to be best friends, under one roof.

Cde Chinx met Patricia, his first wife, during the liberation war and Ntombizodwa, a police officer, after independence.

Patricia, who spoke to this publication shortly before departing for Mabelreign to see the house, which is 90 percent complete, said seeing her husband receive that gift was like witnessing the 1980 independence celebrations all over again.

“I was beginning to believe that my husband has some bad spirits. He sang about the war, some of the songs were even prophetic, but nothing ever really materialised for us — it was like he was cursed,” said Patricia.

She said she still could not believe that “this” (getting a house) was actually happening.

“This is something we have always hoped for, a breakthrough, a landmark honour, some real recognition. I came back with him from the war, but I always silently asked myself: “why is my husband not benefiting like others?”

Patricia said she was looking forward to moving into the new house with her husband and the younger wife as the house is “big enough for us all”.

Cde Chinx was over the moon, saying he had no idea that there were people that actually appreciate his contributions.

“I did not know that my efforts were being noticed by many people. I have always thought that people do not really care about our contributions. This is my greatest honour as a musician and as a liberator,” he said.

The ex-combatant said had it not been for his liberation war-induced toughness, he could have collapsed on stage on Wednesday night.

“I have been in suspense for three months, but the surprise was still beyond my imagination,” said Cde Chinx.

Cde Chinx, who appeared on stage with his two wives, had no clue that his own mother had been brought to the capital for the awards night from her rural home in Rusape.

“Imagine, seeing my mother there on stage and she is the one who handed me the keys to the new house — it was too much to take in, but luckily I’m strong,” he said.

The former guerilla, who is said to have lost his house during Operation Murambatsvina in 2005, a rumour he flatly refutes, dedicated his award to President Mugabe.

“I dedicate this award to the President who guided us from the war and is still with us today. To Zimbabweans, I would not be here if it were not for your support and to Zima, especially the chairman, I want to say thank you,” said Cde Chinx.

The chairman, Nyadzayo, described Cde Chinx as a man who has contributed immensely to music and nation building through his persistence and consistence.

Nyadzayo said the chairman’s award was the only one that carries financial value and as Zima they had managed to raise the needed resources.

“It is not Zima that has built this house. We don’t give money along with our awards, we just honour. It’s his (Cde Chinx) name that built this house. We just came up with the idea and bought a stand, the rest was done by our partners, who were more than happy to chip in and see this house completed,” said Nyadzayo.

Zima marked its return to Zimbabwean showbiz at a glittering ceremony at the Harare International Conference Centre last week. The last ceremony was held in 2007.

. . . it’s goodbye to ghetto life

By Prince Mushawevato

They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned but again nothing is as sweet as a charmed woman.

At the revamped Zima awards Ntombizodwa Chingaira (Cde Chinx’s second wife) expressed joy that exuded a fragrance so sweet that everyone celebrated with her.

The wife of the war veteran and legendary Chimurenga musician Cde Chinx could not contain herself as her husband received the ultimate prize at the awards in the form of a four-bed roomed house in the leafy suburb of Mabelreign under the chairman’s award category.

On stage she tried with great effort to remain as calm as possible but exhilaration could not let her do so. Frequently she would rag some dance moves attracting the attention of revelers who attended the ceremony and those that watched from home. But clearly, the public’s gaze was restricting her from fully expressing herself.

It was after the energetic lady left stage that she was to let loose the real thrill in her. Immediately she joined part of her family, including daughters and sons that were in the auditorium and began to hoedown.

In the process, she passed remarks that revealed her inner feelings over the life changing development.

“Ghetto life is now a thing of the past. We are moving to a flashy suburb. The chairman has done us proud. This is something that I, “Masiziba” (totem) did not foresee. It’s been over two decades and we have been rewarded when we least expected it,” she said.

And the decision by the chairman to include two master bedrooms in the house, she said, meant that they were all of equal importance and where supposed to maintain the unity.

“The chairman has no favour. He did well by creating two master bedrooms for us. We co-exist in this union and need not fight,” said Cde Chinx wife while dancing in celebration.

She immediately ordered one of the kids to get her some whisky for celebration but that was after telling the family, “Don’t go to your respective homes. They said they are going to show us the house in the morning.”

For her the party continued all night. With the delight she showed in public, one wonders how the party went on at home.