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Blessings Chidakwa

Herald Reporter

Government will continue to roll out various programmes in different forms and scope to empower youths across the country.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said this at the Chimurenga songs prize giving function organised by the Institute of African Knowledge (INSTAK) and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

Minister Mutsvangwa said youths constituted at least 70 percent of the population.

“As a serious nation that we are, we place great emphasis on our youths and this is evidenced by the various youth programmes that we have rolled out in different forms and scope to empower them.

“Today, as we crown the best songs in the Instak Zim Chimurenga songs, it is an emotional moment for me as it reminds me of the times and experiences we went through during our armed struggle.

“However, I find comfort in seeing our youths today taking it upon themselves to preserve the history of our nation through remixing the Chimurenga songs thereby carrying on Zimbabwe’s legacy from one generation to another,” she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa said she was pleased to celebrate some of the youths who had done exceptionally well through remixing the songs that were sung during the war of liberation.

“Music plays a very important role in any society and people use music to express their emotions during different occasions and settings.

“The Chimurengsa songs were done for the purposes of encouraging the execution of the liberation war. In other sectors, they were done to pump up morale,” she said.

Over 700 songs were submitted in the competition which saw the first prize winner getting a car, $162 000 and an album recording contract.

The second prize winner got a car, $80 000 and a video production of a song while the third winner scooped $45 000 and recording of a video compilation album.