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Cde Chinx

Godwin Muzari Entertainment Editor—
Since September last year, revolutionary musician Dickson “Cde Chinx” Chingaira has been battling an ailment that is still to be diagnosed. He says, when the unknown ‘enemy’ attacks, a burning sensation runs through his body. The excruciating pain spreads from legs to the waist and from arms to the chest, where it hurts most.

He has been in and out of hospital for the past 10 months and many tests have been conducted, yet the cause of his anguish is still to be established.The ‘enemy’ struck again recently and the comrade is now admitted at St Anne’s Hospital where The Herald Entertainment visited him on Wednesday afternoon.

Like an injured warrior in battlefield, Cde Chinx’s major worry was not the pain but what he has lost because of his condition.

He laments his failure to attend Heroes Day celebrations because of the illness and a lost opportunity to advance President Mugabe’s empowerment drive.

He is bitter because he cannot add his voice to the debate about the imminent repatriation of the skulls of First Chimurenga heroes from British museums.His great grandfather Chingaira Makoni’s head is among the skulls that have, for many years, been displayed in Europe as a sign of the settler regime’s shameless brutality.And Cde Chinx would have wanted to use his powerful music tool to sing and condemn such barbaric acts.He would have wanted to belt out many songs to celebrate our heroes and humiliate our enemies.

He is extremely disappointed.

“I have been here (at St Annes Hospital) since last week. I came here after visiting a number of hospitals since the recent attack came. The pain is sometimes too much but what bothers me most is that I have not been able to take part at the nation’s most important celebrations of heroes,” he said.

“This condition has disadvantaged me. I wish I could just jump out of bed and sing. I want to sing about empowerment. I want to sing about indigenization. The President has spoken passionately about these things and someone has to take the message further. Music takes the message to the people and someone has to sing about it. I have recorded some songs on these topical issues and I want to continue singing and preaching that gospel without ceasing.”Between this bitterness and the pain, Cde Chinx cracked some jokes and smiled. He even sang some lines from his popular songs.

“Iyo iyo hondo yakura todiniko…. We sang during the Third Chimurenga and supported the land reform programme. Some people opposed the programme but we sang until people realised its importance. We sang until some people from the MDC who opposed the programme expressed their interest in getting land. That is the power of music. I want to continue singing about patriotism. The pain might be excruciating but when I recover, I will continue singing ‘Chaiti chauya chikopokopo, kutenderera kuseniseni…..”

Cde Chinx said he has recorded two albums that only need final touches before release.He said his condition has also delayed the projects. “This attack has just been severe but the condition started in September last year. When I am not in bed like this, I do my best to work for my country. That time when I attended Zimbabwe Music Awards last year, it had already started but I soldier on (Cde Chinx was given a special award at the ceremony for his contribution to music industry. He got a house that is in final construction stages). I have defied the condition to go on stage at several functions. It is just severe for now and I challenge other musicians, especially youths to continue fighting for our rights. These African resources are ours and we should not relax when we are being exploited.”

Cde Chinx said he is hopeful that the recent tests carried at St Anne’s Hospital would reveal the disease so that is treated for good.

He has sought assistance from various hospitals and churches and he still has hope that the ailment will be exposed and healed.

“During the war, we were attacked by many diseases and they were treated and we continued to fight. Even now, when they know what is troubling me I know I will get assistance. Since last year I have only been getting medications that ease the pain and I am hopeful the doctors will one day get to the bottom of the problem.”

Cde Chinx said he was disappointed by the recent rumour about his death. He says it is unfortunate some people wish him dead when they should be encouraging him to soldier on in his battle.

“Go and tell them that I will die fighting. This is our country comrade and the struggle continues.”