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Chiremba Hwesamasango dancing with female prisoners. — (Picture by Takawira Dapi)

Arts Reporter
While some popular musicians have never done any charity work for the community, mbira singer Chiremba Hwesamasango has decided to show the arts sector that it does not take a fortune to make a difference. He did not have to wait to have multitudes of followers to extend a helping hand to the community. He just felt compelled to give the little that he has to the needy.

Chiremba Hwesamasango last Sunday led a group of about 50 people to donate goods and groceries worth more than $700 to Chikurubi Female Prison.

It was a day of merrymaking and feasting as the musician took his band, followers and well-wishers to spend about five hours with the women and children in prison.

Born Struggle Dhlamini, Hwesamasango ventured into the music industry a few years ago and has been holding shows at various venues in the capital.

While his name might not ring a bell in some music followers’ heads, Hwesamasango is already a celebrity at Chikurubi Female Prison. They danced to his music, feasted on food that he brought and are now comfortable in the blankets that he donated.

The musician said he started by raising $300 and then encouraged his fans and some well-wishers to contribute any amount towards the noble cause.

The result was Sunday’s event and Hwesamasango is now a happy man. “I always felt this need to assist and I am happy because people responded in an encouraging way. The women and children in prison need our support and they were happy with what we did,” he said.

“It was a day with a difference for them as they had fun. After performing I talked to the officials with an idea of supporting their dance group that they have. We will supply some uniforms to the group and one of our dancers will assist them with choreography.”

It is not the first time for Hwesamasango to assist the needy. In May he held a gala to raise school fees for disadvantaged children and they managed to pay for five pupils. They will hold another gala to raise third term fees for other pupils while their donations in prisons will continue.

The musician said he will start fundraising for another prison donation soon and they will visit a different prison.

After the Sunday donation, Hwesamasango and his band went for a celebratory show at F&G Bar and put up a good performance.