Simon Chimbetu - Controversy and Decline

Controversy and Decline

Chimbetu wasn't far from controversy during his career. At the peak of his popularity, he spent four years in jail and thereafter, rumours hit in 2002 that he hadn't paid his farm workers for months. Additionally, his pro-government stance contributed to the his somewhat rising unpopularity. As the economic situation in Zimbabwe worsened with the controversial land reform, musicians who were seen to side with the land reform and general ZANU-PF policies became unpopular.

His political rhetoric,with songs like Pane Asipo, especially on the highly political album, Hoko, was obviously out of tune with the masses. Some fans deserted him but many still liked his music. It is important to understand that although the land reform program was chaotic, many Zimbabweans acknowledged the need to repossess this valued resources of livelihood. Many Zimbabweans recognized the unfair balance of ownership of land that favoured white people. This majority group of adult Zimbabweans therefore partly appreciated the content of Chimbetu's political songs. In fact even before the controversial land reform programmer Chimbetu is known to have represented the people in highly political songs like "Zuva Raenda" from the extremely successful album "Survival". In "Zuva Raenda", (the sun is setting) Chimbetu laments the delay in redistributing the land to the black masses. Many Zimbabweans positively identified with these songs.

Chimbetu died on 14 August 2005, following injuries sustained in a car accident. Curiously, at the time of his death, his career appeared to be on the mend with the release of 10 Million Pounds Reward. On this album, he sings about many issues, one of which is the unequal resource distribution in Zimbabwe on the Chewa song, Governor Cornwell. The album as a whole is, in fact, a sterling effort that could have catapulted Chimbetu to his former dizzy heights in a different socio-political and economic environment. Chimbetu himself was of Chewa origin although he was born and raised in Zimbabwe. When he was declared a provincial hero, his actual burial was kept a secret in line with his religious burial traditions. Soon after, his father Benson and Naison himself, also passed on.

A younger brother who was already part of the Orchestra Dendera Kings, Allan, fronts the band today. He has recorded a well-received album entitled Sonny. He has toured his brother's old haunt of London at least once and seems to be headed for greater things.

Many Zimbabweans remember Simon as a polite,well spoken guy who always freely discussed simple issues of life with common people. Though somewhat unlucky in his personal life(his wife ditched him while in jail), Simon was well liked by those who knew him, and they were many. Many called him by his many stage names, among them "Mr Viscose"(before imprisonment), "Cellular", "Simomo" or simply "Mukoma Sam" Most called him "Chopper", the nom de guere he took when he joined the liberation war.