Since time immemorial modes of communication have been vital in our society with music playing an integral communicative role in the Zimbabwean pre-colonial and colonial community. Fundamentally music acts as a vehicle for socialisation and community development. Culture vanguards and art performers were regarded in high esteem and were also consulted at the “dare” where issues affecting the community were discussed and decisions made. Even today, these forms of art play a very important role in shaping societal norms and beliefs. With the dynamism of culture, these art forms now play a different role in the modern Zimbabwean society, littered with socio-economic hardships, political intolerance, culture erosion and ignorance.
Our society today has shelved music as entertainment, only to be involved when the real issues have been dealt with. Even Tuku is only invited to after conference activities which basically involve him strumming chords on the guitar. When he says “Bvuma”, every Zimba laughs and it ends there. Unlike journalists, musicians do not hold water so it seems. They are a lot who must be gripped, victimised, sidelined, deprived and as such be controlled and not given any seriousness. They are pleasant to the ears but must leave through the other ear before any assimilation of them and their sayings happens.
I place the whole blame of such mindsets and sidelining on such representative bodies like the Zimbabwe Union of Musicians.
A lack of direction, priority and boldness of some people has made the arts a non-event in the political and economic spheres of Zimbabwe as individualism rules at the end of the day. Inongova njake njake in the arts yet ZUM is there, annual subscription fees are paid, an office with computer is made available and donations keep coming in from various sectors.
Few young artists of today, and even arts and culture students at tertiary institutions, for instance, know the role of Zimbabwe Union Musicians yet they form an integral part of the our community that must be represented by the same institution at decision making processes.
A visit to the ZUM offices at NRZ will clearly show why the Zimbabwe Union Musicians needs reform. From the first corridors, one is greeted with an odour of rotting timber and moulding on the brick walls. The office itself has no lights and the furniture inside is apparently discarded seats, broken tables and chairs. I heard they now want to sublet it! Only three people currently work for ZUM who are the Chairman, National Organising Secretary and Secretary General. This is if working for an organisation means you can come in twice a week around 2pm then leave at 3pm, your phone number stuck on the door ‘in case of emergency’. These are ‘elected’ officials who decide the policies of the organization and indirectly many other lives. There are no staff members to run the day to day needs of the Union. Ask for a job and you will be the most disappointed person ever! The three officials spend most of their time in their own personal affairs in the arts. One is lucky to find someone at the offices. The one computer available is locked as well as the new P.A System they have recently been donated of, in a separate room. All this as me, one graduate musician, is struggling uptown in Harare. Apparently publicity stunts are what thy are good at. Donating thousands of dollars at high profile funerals and hosting reggae outfits paid outrageous absurd fees.
Says one musician, “Musangano wauraya ZUM”. A political party has destroyed ZUM. Maybe in continuing after Tekere’s ZUM.
It is such a representative situation that has resulted in the arts and culture industries being “left behind” in processes and platforms that have shaped Zimbabwe to this day. The 2010 Constitutional process under the GPA principals is also likely to “leave behind” cultural rights and arts needs if the selection of only two arts professionals by the Parliamentary Select Committee to be part of the thematic sub-committees is anything to go by. No representative of the Union was selected. This neglect has resulted in having this national arts body only in name but with no active mandate, less capacity for growth and no meaningful contribution in the arts community. Uncalled for involvement by individuals with political influence Union has rendered it useless and unable to speak out against unfair working environments for artists. Coupled with undemocratic decision making by the leaders, they have left the artist uncatered for. If you want to get our older musicians angry, ask them about Zimbabwe Union of Musicians, yet the involvement and quality of decisions of Zimbabwe Union of Musicians will have a direct bearing on the economic activities of artists.
Institutional Reform must be carried out at Zimbabwe Union of Musicians. Institutional Reform must change and install systems of good governance that promote effective use of resources allocated to such bodies by funding agencies as Culture Fund. ZUM must recruit; create better working conditions for the staff members and its beneficiaries. Institutional Reform will provide platforms for safe and sustainable project management, tools for reporting, re-networking and positive imaging Zimbabwe Union of Musicians. Installing financial systems that are transparent and accountable and insisting on the organisation using or referencing their constitutions and denounce undemocratic decision making by the leaders is important. As our labour representative, tertiary arts and culture students who will eventually be the leaders of the same organisation and other arts bodies tomorrow must be part of this reform process. Elections are long overdue. The trio currently heading ZUM must be changed. We need young people with fresh ideas, new drives and room to sacrifice. I have not seen an artist with a medical aid card!
The Government of Zimbabwe must understand the arts as a profession like any other revenue generating profession that needs a say, recognition and inclusion in the processes that develop Zimbabwe. It is better to have more government involvement in the affairs of such arts bodies to provide resources and legal advice in policy creation and implementation. These efforts will only be solidified by the creation of the Arts and Culture Commission to represent the arts and culture industries at decision making bodies and provide for capacity building and reform for many other smaller organisations formed for the cause of arts and culture development. Viva la musica!
