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Uncle Ritchie

Jonathan Mbiriyamveka Entertainment Reporter
Richard Matimba of the “Wotoshaya kuti zvirikumbofamba sei” fame, says he is taking legal action against companies and individuals who have been using his jokes without his consent.More popularly known as Uncle Ritchie, Matimba shot to fame recently and has become the toast of prestigious functions in the capital.

“I have noted with grave concern that there are individuals, corporate companies and fellow artistes who are using my trademarks without my permission. So I have engaged my lawyers on that issue,” he said.

The comedian who is set to tour the United Kingdom in August for shows, claims he has registered his trademark joke with the Ministry of Justice,Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to protect his intellectual property.

Under the Copyright Act, it is illegal to use or perform someone’s intellectual work without permission.

And Uncle Ritchie now targets organisers of the Miss Zimbabwe pageant and Zesa for breaching the Copyright Act.

“Zesa has been using advertorial with my jokes and it was quite appalling that the Miss Zimbabwe Trust used a voice over of ‘Mudhikoni Bhebe’ joke, which is again protected under the Copyright Act. Now it’s time to take action,” Uncle Ritche said.

The Miss Zimbabwe pageant, which was held over the weekend opened with a performance of “Mudhikoni Bhebhe” joke by a member of the Apama dance group.

The 30-year-old wordsmith, who is also a music teacher by profession said he has since recorded a sungura track based on “Mudhikoni Bhebhe” joke with producer Clive

“Mono” Mukundu, a house track with a South African producer Blacksmith, and two dancehall tracks with Sunshine of Sunshine Studios.

Besides, the “Zvirikumbofamba sei?” and “Mudhikoni Bhebhe” jokes, Uncle Ritchie also did the “Zim-Asset” joke.

So popular are his jokes on several social media including WhatsApp that most people have his recordings on their mobile phones.

In “Zviri kumbofamba sei” his style consists of pure humorous nonsense like people getting their heads clean shaven in a butchery and really serious issues of the need for serious grassroots-based representation in Parliament.

Uncle Ritchie plays the part of a person who is seeing it all through a kaleidoscope that is constantly shaken so he never gets what is going on.

In “Zim-Asset” he starts off by explaining that the majority of the populace does not understand the economic turnaround blue print that the country’s economy hinges on.

So he starts explaining it in a series of bunkum and misrepresentations.