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Tawanda Marwizi : Arts Correspondent

A five-year promotion contract signed between music promoter Partson “Chipaz” Chimbodza and musician Andy Muridzo last year has ended prematurely following a misunderstanding over operational issues. Under the agreement, Muridzo was supposed to perform periodically at Chipaz’s Dandaro Inn while the promoter would fund some of the musicians’ bigger projects.According to a source, Chimbodza forked out more than $6 000 to organise Muridzo’s album launch that took place at Dandaro Inn in March as part of the package.

Partson Chimbodza

The musician also got a Honda Odyssey from Chipaz for use in his personal and professional assignments.

The source revealed that Chipaz was supposed fund a collaboration between Muridzo and Botswana’s Charma Gal.

Early this year, Muridzo announced that he would go into the studio with Charma Gal in April, but the deal failed to materialise.

The fall-out between Muridzo and Chipaz is said to have begun when the former asked for a review of the contract arguing he was not benefiting much from the agreement.

On the other hand, Chipaz is said to have insisted he was going out of his way to assist the musician.

“There was a heated argument over the issue,” the source revealed.

“They had been working well before the young musician felt some provisions of the contract were short-changing him. He was mainly against performing at some Chipaz-organised events for free.”

The fall-out is said to have led Chipaz to take back his car and cancel the proposed facilitation of the Charma Gal duet.

The source revealed that the parties exchanged harsh words after the fall-out.

This publication is in possession of a message that Chipaz sent to Muridzo when the deal collapsed.

Andy Muridzo

The message reads: “Andy iye zvino waita album asi hausati wakura this is why ndakakusimudza kuti uuye pano. Kana wazokura haikona kukanganwa kwawakabva. Usakanganwe uyu Daanny Mbarure akubatsira asi ukakanganwa hako in Chipaz hazvina mhosva nekuti ndazvijaira kukanganikwa nema artistes but ndinoramba ndichimanata nekuti hakuna gwenzi rinokunda kunamata.”

(Andy, you have released an album but you are still upcoming and this is why I assisted you to rise. When you get established, do not forget where you came from. Don’t forget Danny Mbarure who helped you. You may forget about me, but it does not matter because I am used to artistes with such characters. I will always pray because there is nothing more powerful than prayer.)

Mbarure is one of the people that assisted Muridzo in the early days of his career and now works with Jah Prayzah.

Chimbodza refused to comment on the matter.

“I don’t have anything to say concerning that matter. Maybe you can talk to him if he has anything to say,” he said.

Muridzo confirmed the misunderstanding but could not give more details.

“Yes we had an issue, but I think it was resolved amicably. That is all I can say for now,” he said.