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Sydney Kawadza Senior :Features Writer

A conductor in a musical set up, that is a choir, holds the “key” to a performance that captures the imagination of the audience at any given time. This performance is adjudicated through the waves that the conductor creates when the act has been done. Enter ZRP Constable Miller Phiri, who has captivated people at State functions, especially at the National Heroes Acre where a virtually unknown policeman became an overnight star.It all started during the burial of renowned civil servant Dr Charles Utete when the famous ZRP Band unleashed the choral group.

An unknown outfit that, at first, was not considered a serious act but after Phiri led the group through the Gwebede song, accompanied by comical dances, a new phenomenon was unleashed.

As the group took to the podium during Heroes Day commemorations last Monday, all rose in anticipation of another scintillating act and the group did not disappoint.

Watch the Video below

 

Phiri was once again the main attraction, taking choral music to another level.

He has indeed set the bar too high for other performances that may be asked to entertain people at the national shrine.

“As a member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police Band, our main function is to provide entertainment, hence I always aim at entertaining the audience,” Phiri said.

“There is no way you can entertain people when all that you see on their faces are stern expressions; so the main idea is to bring smiles to their faces.

“If you want to make someone smile, you smile at them and they will definitely smile back at you.”

A gem unearthed during Dr Utete’s burial cannot be compared to such maestros in classical music like Toscanini or Furtwangler, Bernstein or Dudamel, but Phiri has written his own story.

The world of classical music, dating back to 709 BC, has Pherekydes of Patrae, known in ancient Greece as the “Giver of Rhythm”; Phiri has proffered both rhythm and dance.

“All I am always thinking of is entertaining people and making them happy.

“As a conductor, people can sing without me as they can sing without following a beat.

“However, music is an art, so I will be creating an art as I am conducting the choir.

“You shock, you stop and you control the pitch of the choir as a conductor.”

While Phiri has started composing his own songs, it is the rendition of the folk song Gwebede that has endeared him to the people.

“Gwebede is a gospel song and as a gospel song derived from Ezekiel Chapter 38, it speaks of the valley of dry bones . . .

“It further prophesies on the dry bones and when the band sings, we are singing about the House of Israel and in the prophecy the dry bones will rise with the coming of Jesus Christ.

“When we look at the Word, it gives us hope.”

Phiri further explains that the song captures the moment when the nation converges at a place like the National Heroes Acre for burials or commemorations.

“There are people who would have lost a loved one and possibly hope, but the song says there is still hope and the bones will rise.

“Ultimately, there will be happiness as long as we believe in Christ.”

Constable Phiri joined the police as a recruit in November 2012, where his talent was recognised during his training days.

“The police holds church services for recruits during training and it is there during services that we sing.

“Sometimes we sing during road runs when someone starts a song and the instructors usually notice that kind of talent and passion for music,” he said.

As a talented young man, Phiri was identified during his training days and was immediately posted to the ZRP Band.

“I am not really sure when I started music but all I know is that I was exposed to music at a very tender age at Machoka Primary School in Chiredzi.

“I do not believe I was really confident then, but when I went to Tshovani Primary School, I joined the Marimba band and learnt a few skills.”

Constable Phiri later attended Chibuwe Secondary School, where he was part of the Praise and Worship team.

“In 2005-6, I went to Hlanganani Secondary School, where though we did not have a formal group, the school authorities asked us to formalise our activities.

“I had limited knowledge of reading music notes, but we performed until I finished my Advanced-Level in 2009.”

He said joining the ZRP Band opened various musical avenues for him.

“The band took us in and developed our talents up to where we are today because since I joined, I have been trained and attained a Grade 5 Level Certificate in Music.”

Besides the leadership at the band, Phiri has also been exposed to lecturers from the Zimbabwe College of Music and Midlands State University.

The constable showered praises on the leadership at ZRP.

“When I was in Chiredzi, no one knew about me but the police, through Commissioner-General Chihuri and his officers, have developed me and my colleagues.

“They identified our talents and made a decision to develop us as a product and market us to the people,” he said.

Phiri’s rise to stardom has not been missed by his superiors at the band.

ZRP Director of Music, Chief Superintendent Fungai Marange, said Phiri was identified as a natural talent and given the chance to develop as a musician.

“He was identified while he was in recruitment training during church service and we noticed that he had the skill of conducting the choir.

“The conductor is identified with the skills he possesses and his skill was further developed through our vibrant training section which is affiliated to the Zimbabwe College of Music.”

The Zimbabwe College of Music trains and examines candidates from the training section.

“When we identified him, we gave him the responsibility for the activities of the choir as the ZRP Band, we basically look at a musician.

“We do not look at someone’s rank or status in the society when we identify musicians and all of them are ordinary policemen and women recruited in the same manner as others,” Chief Supt Marange said.

He said the band identifies talented members and give them a chance to grow and work in a way that satisfies them.

“Every member is given a chance to exhibit their best.

“We have several officers leading different groups with different responsibilities and skills that are related to their particular sections.”

The main component of the ZRP Band, he added, is based on public relations.

“We want to portray the police in a positive light. The public should not only see a policeman or woman in terms of enforcing laws but making society a safe and peaceful environment for development.”

Coming from a bastion of the finest talent in the police force with numbers reaching a massive 400 musicians, the ZRP Band is a fortress of potentially top musicians.

It is in this myriad of talent that a choir conductor has captured the attention of the nation.

From a relatively unrecognisable policeman who loves his music, Cst Phiri believes more is yet to come out of him.

“There is a saying that the sky is the limit, but for me, my north is the limit, and if I can walk to reach my north, that becomes my limit.

“This means I am going to keep developing as a musician and as long as I am living I can develop some more.”

Married to Rumbidzai Portia Matara, the couple is blessed with a baby girl.

The only question that remains is: what next, officer?

 

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