Tue 2 May 2006

HARARE - A prominent Zimbabwe musician Hosiah Chipanga was on Monday forced to pull out of a Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) organised function in Harare after he received death threats from anonymous sources.

Speaking to ZimOnline yesterday ahead of the ZCTU function at Gwanzura Stadium in Harare, Chipanga said he had pulled out of the function after he received death threats through his mobile phone.

"I was supposed to perform at Gwanzura today (Monday) but I will not be able to do so due to threats I have been receiving through my phone. I'm not quiet sure who is phoning me but I have been phoned by three different voices warning me not to perform or else lose my life.

"Though I know I would be safe during the performance, my life would at stake afterwards. This is the reason why I have decided to withdraw," he said.

ZCTU secretary general Wellington Chibhebhe condemned the threats against the musician and said the act was a desperate act of abuse of power by the Harare authorities.

"Chipanga had for the past days been receiving threats through his mobile phone and they even went to his place to warn him to refrain from performing at our functions.

"This is purely an abuse of power by (President Robert ) Mugabe and needs to be condemned in the strongest terms. Chipanga is an artist and artists speak for the voiceless," said Chibhebhe.

The Zimbabwean musician, who sings in the local Shona language, has raised the ire of Mugabe's government in the past because of his sharp lyrics deemed critical of the Harare authorities.

Last year, Chipanga was threatened by the government's feared Central Intelligence Organisation secret agents after playing songs at a state-funded gala suggesting Mugabe would only relinquish power through death. - ZimOnline