When you try to assist a friend or relative and they are not grateful, never get too discouraged. It seems like it is in human nature to find fault in other people’s benevolence. If you are too sensitive to criticisms, you will stop doing good for others and what good will that bring to the world? Sometime in the past my name was tarnished by people I was trying to help, but that has failed to make me give up on helping others.
When I heard that Mitchel Jambo had been involved in a car accident and was admitted at Harare Hospital, I immediately drove to the hospital . I took with me a few items which I thought could provide him some relief. I carried a small Sony radio and, on my way, bought bed sheets, pillow cases and a blanket. I bought these items because I knew the dire situation that prevailed at the hospital at that time.
When I got to the hospital, he was very happy to see me. He narrated to me how the accident had occurred. His left hand was seriously injured and doctors were doing their best to stop the further loss of blood. Just before I left, I approached the sister- in- charge intending to hand over the items I had brought. She accepted the small radio but refused to receive the blanket, pillow cases and sheets arguing that hospital policy did not allow patients to bring own bed linen. I gave Mr. Jambo a few dollars to buy some snacks and drinks.
The following day, I rushed to see Mr. Julian Howard, who was the managing director of Gramma Records. I told him about the accident and he agreed to assist financially. Mr. Howard also tasked me to find the exact cost of having Mr. Mitchel Jambo’s hand operated on. I got the quotation from Dr Mauchaza, who is elder brother to former Radio 3 presenter, Ben Mauchaza. According to the doctor, Mr. Jambo’s hand required skin grafting. I took the quotation to Mr. Howard who gave me a cheque written in Mr. Mitchel Jambo’s name.
By that time Mr. Mitchel Jambo had been released from Harare Hospital but was still getting treatment from the hospital. I gave Mr. Jambo the cheque from Gramma Records. Mr. Jambo was recording his music under Gramma and at the time of the accident, his hit song Vimbisio was still doing very well on radio and television.
Since Mr. Jambo survived through music shows and recordings, I approached the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe to stage a joint fundraising concert. The benefit show was held at the Harare Gardens and was a resounding success. My responsibility at the concert was to ensure that all groups who had agreed to perform did so. The National Arts Council manned the entry points and collected all the money raised, which was later handed over to Mr. Jambo by the National Arts Council Director.
To my utter surprise, I later realized that Mr. Mitchel Jambo had not gone for skin grafting. Instead, he had used the money donated to him to relocate his family from Gweru to Harare. I also noticed that he was into the latest fashions, especially sneakers and denim jeans. Gramma, the National Arts Council and I had done our part. Although, I felt that Mr. Jambo should have prioritized his treatment, I also respected his right to make decisions for himself as an adult.
Given this background, it was with great shock, when on November 2003 I saw a story in The Sunday Mail Newspaper, titled ‘NAC, Malunga fleeced me: Jambo cries foul over proceeds of show’. At first Mr. Mitchel Jambo said he did not get any money from the National Arts Council and Jenaguru. Later, he changed his story and acknowledged receiving $500 000.
Up to this day Mr. Jambo has still not fixed his hand disability and it seems like it’s fine with him. He cannot play the bass guitar anymore. A similar incident happened when the Zimbabwe Union of Musicians (ZUM) complained through the press that it was not fair for an organization like Jenaguru Arts Centre to organize Musicians Day alone. They wanted to be involved. Although the day was my brain child, I agreed to join forces with the Zimbabwe Union of Musicians, thinking that working together as a team would bring harmony into the music industry. I started working with Mr Michael Francis Sekerani (Chairman), Samaita Zindi (Treasurer), Robson Nyanzira (secretary) and committee members, Moses Kabubi and Mr Bulk. Jenaguru trained all the members on how to organize a successful musical festival. I introduced the ZUM members to sponsors and equipment hire firms that I had used. Mr. Bulk offered his car for use by members in traveling.
After sacrificing a lot to make the festival a success, I noticed that as the festival date drew near the ZUM committee started holding meetings for the festival without inviting me. On realising that my services were no longer needed I pulled back. Instead of forcing myself on ZUM meetings, I engaged National Breweries to sell beer at the festival, a venture that became a huge success. On the other hand, the Zimbabwe Union of Musicians did not make much money because they did not know how to manage human traffic through the entry points. Their second festival was a monumental flop and it became their last. I continued the following year as ‘Jenaguru Music Festival’ until 2005. My main supporters were Natbrew, Gramma Records, Spinnalong, Telecel, ZBC, NORAD and SIDA.
Going back to the Mitchel Jambo story, at one point he joined a group of musicians who were suing Gramma Records for selling artists’ music on Zim-Audio.Com without remitting the royalties. We believed that our strength would come from our numbers. We later discovered that Mr. Mitchel Jambo was a double agent, reporting to Mr Emmanuel Vhori of Gramma Records, everything that we were planning concerning the court case. There is nothing more dangerous than working with a traitor within your ranks. Our case with Gramma Records later collapsed because of the divisions that started among artists.
The pain brought by these setbacks has not dampened my desire to cooperate with fellow artists and to assist the underprivileged. I have since carried out many more projects to assist both the budding and established artists. We must continue doing good even when those we try to assist are not appreciative. Our father in heaven who sees your heart’s intention will reward you.
