By Martin Muleya.
MUTARE, Zimbabwe. (News Of The South) -Sakubva community are set to brace up for a new look in the oldest community of Mutare, following the recent visit by a delegation from the United Kingdom.
Rebuild Sakubva a United Kingdom based chapter received a heart rending welcome yesterday in Mutare, when they visited Sakubva Beit-hall, with a view to monitor and appreciate the progress taking place at the once dilapidated home of entertainment for the Sakubva community.
In her welcome remarks Rebuild Sakubva Mutare Chapter Executive Director Lucy Nkomo highlighted that the visit by the four member delegation from England was to cement relationship between the Sakubva community and the would-be sponsors who want to give Mutare’s oldest high density suburb a new look.
“The whole purpose of the visit for the four member delegation is to familiarize themselves with Sakubva suburb as well as interacting with the beneficiaries of the books they sent sometime beginning of last year which were distributed for all schools dotted in Sakubva township,” said an elated Nkomo.
The delegation which comprised of a Briton of Zimbabwean descent Fungai Malianga and three other Alvin Elcock, prince John Emmanuel and Hesketh Benoit all from the Caribbean Islands will be in the country for the next two weeks interacting with people of all ages, distributing basketball balls and sport kits for community teams in Sakubva.
During their maiden visit at Sakubva beit- hall the quartet were treated to some beautiful entertainment by upcoming hip hop artists Gainmore Bhere and Cashington Nyikayaramba.
The duos who are known on stage as G-Bells exhibited rare talent in the music industry as they kept fans on their toes with their hit songs such as Mubvumbi Wabva Kare and M- town.
The M-town song is pregnant with meaning as how artist in Mutare have been shun from the limelight and that this was their opportune time to make their presence felt especially with the opening of the two weeks old Diamond Community Radio station in Mutare.
“G-Bells has been in the hip hop industry since 2010, bad had not been receiving the intended publicity it deserves. Whenever promoters think of music, they would think of hiring artists from Harare and thus our song M-Town is meant to make our presence felt that we as locals deserve the equal publicity just like the Harare artists. Our fervent hope is that with the coming up of Diamond Community Radio Station, we will be able to showcase our talent and use this as our springboard to hog the limelight,” noted Bhere.
Speaking in an interview with News Of The South, Rebuild Sakubva United Kingdom chapter chairman Fungai Malianga said his team was humbled by the reception they received from the Sakubva community considering that they were interacting with them for the first time.
He however was quick to note that the purpose of their two week- long visit was to establish how handful the donation of books the sent last year has been to the recipients’ as well as seeing that the iconic Sakubva Beit-hall is reverberated as a giant entertainment joint in Sakubva.
“The purpose of our visit is to find out and recognize what has been happening to the donations that we sent here sometime last year. Basically we are interested in finding out if we sent the right donation, was it useful to the intended beneficiaries because we are gathering and sending these books at random.
“Also we intend to find out what is really required in schools here specifically not forgetting to finish the big project that we are renovating Sakubva Beit-hall. We aspire to see the Beit-hall as a viable community centre that will serve both the young and the old,” said Malianga.
Malianga who also hails from Sakubva and once shared stage with the Runn Family led by the Muparutsa family also reiterated that his home coming after 20 years was worthwhile and assured that he would dig dip in his coffers to retain the status that Sakubva community had during yesteryear.
Alvin Elcock who hails from Barnados, Carribean Islands said the historic visit in Zimbabwe and particularly in Mutare was handy and noted that he was overwhelmed by the refurbishments taking place at the Beit-hall.
“I am overwhelmed with the project here in Sakubva of refurbishing the community hall. By refurbishing this seemingly old building we are actually developing the capacity for the locals,” he said.
The visitors from the United Kingdom are expected to be part of the crowd that will watch superstar Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi do what he knows best on stage at next week’s Friday gig at the community hall, in Sakubva, together with other upcoming artists in Sakubva to support him.
part of the crowd at Sakubva beit hall watching the proceedings
Fom left to right Alvin Elcock, Nyadzisai Mushonga, Min of Youth and Indigenisation Mutare District head Alex Mwakapesile and Lucy Nkomo (Rebuild Sakubva Executive Director)
Vision Academy dancers pose for a photo
From left Alvin Elcock, Prince John Emmanuel, Lucy Nkomo and Nyadzisai Mushonga having a chat at the Beit-hall balcony
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