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Sniper Storm

Ruth Butaumocho and Tawanda Marwizi Arts Correspondent
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces is the new bae in town! Forget about the so-called slay queens and the well oiled dudes in towns, these ones are simply rocking the town. With no penny to spend on anyone, they are getting all the attention from everyone following the events of November 14 2017 that ushered a new political era.

From being mere military troops who were usually confined to the barracks going through the drills in anticipation of any upheavals, they have become the most revered, loved and appreciated group, anyone would want to hang around with. Selfies of beautiful ladies hanging around soldiers have become the order of the day.

Prosper Dembedza

Even narratives in public spheres have shifted from that of false prophets of our times, the increasing rate of the bond to the United States dollar to how the military changed the political landscape overnight. The euphoria has also gripped the arts sector, where artistes are burning the candle to come up with artworks that match political events that led to the inauguration of Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa as the second executive president of Zimbabwe.

Several musicians are already running ahead of the pack and have simultaneously released celebratory singles about the army following its intervention in the political situation in the country.

Soul Jah Love

Four dancehall musicians, Macdonald Chirisa aka Sniper Storm, Killer T, Prosper Dembedza aka Proda and Soul Jah Love who earned himself the moniker “Interface crooner” have in the last two weeks released songs that resonates with the people’s mood and the political situation on the ground. Some of the tracks have become anthemic and are receiving rave reviews across, whilst others are still struggling for airplay on both the local stations and even in the public sphere.

Killer T

Sniper’s “Masoja’ heaps praises on the Zimbabwe Defence Forces for their intervention in the country’ political crisis, saying the action was welcomed by everyone.

“Izvezvi nyika irikufara amai hwee, Vanhu varikuita madiro aGeorgina,” goes some of the lyrics. In the song that is fast gaining ground among revellers because of the message, Sniper describes the military intervention as the fourth Chimurenga, where the military had to use force to rid the country of economic and political saboteurs’.

“Iwe soja rikagumbuka, puma inovhura gedhi, pfuti inokinuura door.” Taingovaona neziso raBob Marley, vachivaka mansions, tichifa nenzara’

Sniper uses vivid and powerful imaginary to capture the events that happened two weeks ago. In the absence of a video, he uses pictures of some of the memorable events that were captured during the transitional period.

“Vaingovukura vukura vari kumusoro ikoko makazongoti pasi nemhandu”. The musician was referring to the interface rallies when Mrs Grace Mugabe would go on a tirade, accusing her political opponents of sabotaging the ruling Zanu PF party. In an interview, Sniper Storm said he was doing his work as a musician and expressed his gratitude to the military for the great work.

““It is the duty of every musician to play his part thanking the military for their work in restoring legacy in the country,” he said. For someone who had sunk into oblivion and had become a pale shadow of former self in the arts sector, the single is likely to revive Sniper’s waning fortunes, while giving him time to re-brand and regroup.

The same message of appreciation and hope is clearly captured in Killer’s T song, “Nyika yese irikufara”. A sing along track, Killer T tries to capture the revelling mood by his use of a fast and danceable beat to complement the lyrics on the military intervention. Killer T said it was a way of thanking the military for the work they did in restoring legacy to the country.

On the other hand Soul Jah Love released another song praising General Chiwenga and his troops for ensuring the safety of Zimbabweans through a peaceful transition of power from Robert Cde Mugabe to President Mnangagwa.

Upcoming Dembedza also penned a song congratulating the new President for his appointment. In the song, the youthful group, Final Warning praises Cde Mnangagwa’s tenacity in the implementation of the Command Agriculture, which has since become one of the strong pillars of economic revival and development.

The sing along track was released a week ago and like the three other songs, has found favour with hundreds of music fans as the message resonates with the prevailing situation In all the four songs, a new political dispensation is the thread that runs through all the tracks, that were hastily put together to ensure that the message resonates with the nation’s mood.