By Sindiso Dube
Urban grooves crooner Shamie Mabvudzi has sent a comforting message to Zimbabweans in a song about the economic shambles and state brutality in the country.
Shamie was the other half of the once famous duo — Shame and Nathan — who came into the scene at the advent of the urban grooves era.
The duo belted out tracks such as Aripo Wangu, Ndofara, Mafaro Chete and Taidanana, among others.
The song titled It’s Gonna Be Alright was released recently and is accompanied by visuals, which paint sad and gloomy images of civilians being manhandled by the army in the streets of Harare.
Zimbabweans have witnessed brutal crackdowns of protests by vendors, opposition activists, doctors, teachers and government workers resulting in many injuries and deaths.
“The song is about giving hope to Zimbabweans back home and outside the country,” Shamie told Standard Style.
“All I am saying regardless of what we have gone through and what we are going through is ‘it’s going to be alright.
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“Not everyone will make it but at the end of the day everything is going to be alright.
“One day is one day; there is hope for a better Zimbabwe in all aspects.”
In 2019, Harare vendor Hilton Tafadzwa Tamangani died in police custody following a police beating while in custody.
For leading a series of protests by doctors over better remuneration and working conditions, Peter Magombeyi, a medical doctor, was reportedly abducted by suspected state security agents and released after being tortured.
Magombeyi was placed in police custody until a High Court order was sought to allow him access to foreign treatment.
In that same year comedian and actor Samantha “Gonyeti” Kureya was reportedly abducted from her home by masked gunmen.
She was beaten and forced to drink sewage before being dumped.
Early this year, three activists from the main opposition party MDC Alliance Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri were arrested allegedly for flouting the county’s lock down regulations tom contain corona-virus.
After partying ways with Nathan in 2003, Shamie recorded his first successful solo album titled Hazvinei, which had songs like Hazvinei, Ndamirira Ndaneta and Boogey Jive.
In 2010 he released his second solo album titled The Journey which was mainly sold online.
He has worked with the likes of Delani Makhalima, Stunner, Maskiri, Ex-Q, Roki, Afrika Revenge, Kelly Rusike and he has also shared the stage with the likes of Tanga Wekwa Sando, the late Simon Chimbetu, Andy Brown and Betty Makaya.
Alongside Nathan, they worked with the late veteran producer Fortune Mparutsa to record their first song called I do in 1996, which was then released in 2001.
