By Sindiso Dube
After hogging the limelight recently because of his association with Citizens Coalition for Change leader Nelson Chamisa, dancehall chanter Ricky Fire is working on a new album and is seeking donations to produce it.
Ricky Fire publicly endorsed Chamisa and has been performing at all CCC rallies in the run up to the March 26 by-elections, which were widely won by CCC councillors and parliamentarians.
The Kumba Kunouya Kuno hit maker asked his fans and “citizens” supposedly CCC supporters for donations on Go Fund Me for his album production.
“Dear Citizens of Zimbabwe, I wanted to reach out and let you know that I am fundraising for an album that I’m working on,” wrote Ricky Fire on Facebook.
“As you probably already know, this cause is very important to me and my life and also very important to you who support my music because I’m doing this album for you.
“Would you be able to contribute to my fundraiser?
“A donation of any amount would truly help me reach my goal.
“I need to work with Oskid, Dj Tamuka, Cymblex, Sunshine, Mount Zion, Lazzie T and Kutso. I also want to have two videos from Vusa Blaqs and Andy Cutta on the album.”
A Go Fund Me account was created on Thursday with a target to raise £3 000 and by Friday only £15 had been contributed.
Ricky Fire openly threw his weight behind Chamisa in a Facebook Live post, and went on to claim to have received threats on his life after he attended and performed at the opposition party rally addressed by Chamisa.
Ricky Fire performed his new track dubbed Kudya Yero, which features Jah Nero (Chamisa), who chants on the chorus. It has been easy for the chanter to promote the song as he performed it in all provinces where Chamisa took his rallies to.
In a previous interview with Standard Style, Ricky Fire’s manager Jayden Mutopa said they would not be threatened into silence.
“Apart from being a musician Ricky Fire is a citizen of this country who has a constitutional right to associate with a political party of his choice,” Mutopa said.
“Yes, he performed there (CCC rally) because it was part of his mandate as an artist and entertainer to do so. It’s his job to perform, even if Zanu PF books him to perform, we will go. It’s our job and we were only doing our job.
“About threats, we are not worried as they came from ghost accounts and as citizens of Zimbabwe, the law should protect us.”
Ricky Fire joins a host of artistes who have thrown their weight behind Chamisa and use their social capital to rally supporters to the newly formed party. The list includes Sanni Makhalima, Lorraine Guyo and Seh Calaz, among others.