By Sebastian Nyamhangambiri, reporting for Freemuse from Harare

Most urban grooves musicians who became a hit on Zimbabwe’s state owned radio and television stations under the era of Jonathan Moyo as the country’s information minister have now been taken off air.

Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s four state-owned radio stations have since last month taken off air six albums on the pretext that they are ‘abusive’ and ‘look down upon women.’
An executive at the ZBC told Freemuse that the broadcaster had issued a directive to producers to ‘drastically’ reduce the number of urban grooves musicians.
He did, however, not wish to be quoted in public for this.

Six urban groove albums off air
“All the radio stations no longer give air play to urban groovers since they were promoted by the former minister,” he said. “It seems they are no longer relevant to the government. We were told to make an official notice which is relevant to the producers (that they demean women).”
Another source at ZBC revealed that a meeting was held last month at which the issue of the ‘abusive music’ was discussed. The source said a list of singers were put in the category of songs to be taken off air.
“We have six albums that are no longer played, despite some of them still being popular with listeners,” said the source. “The directive came from the Ministry of Information in the end of August.”

Minister denied allegations
When reached for comment, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Information, denied the allegations, saying the government was a ‘mere shareholder of ZBC’ and did not determine the contents of the programmes.
“I do not know where such blatant lies are coming from,” said Ndlovu. “The government does not interfere in the day-to-day running of the ZBC. We have a ZBC board of governors we appoint to set the tone and that are where we end. As to which song is played is for listeners and DJs to determine.“

The list
Since last month, this reporter has been working with other people to check on the alleged taking off air of some urban grooves musicians. The observation confirmed what the executive at ZBC said. The following songs appear to have been taken off air:
• 'Jatropha' by Dino Mudondo,
• Extra Large's hit songs 'Small House' and 'House Girl',
• Maskiri's 'Madam Mombeshora', 'Miscarriage' and 'Zimhamha',
• Decibel's 'Madhara' and
• Nasty Trix's 'Chimoko Chidanger', among others.

The head of ZBC’s radio services Allan Chiweshe, refused to comment on the taking off air of ‘abusive songs’ when approached by Freemuse. But he was quoted in a state owned newspaper recently confirming that the ZBC had taken off air some urban grooves songs:
“If you listen to the radio now you can hear that we no longer give air play to songs that reduce women to nothing or idolise them as mere sexual objects. Some of these songs contain obscene and sexist lyrics. If you listen carefully to that song 'Jatropha' by Dino Mudondo it implies that all women want in a marriage is sex,” Chiweshe told The Herald.
Artists from some of the one of the affected singers were quoted in the same newspaper accusing the ZBC as being ‘misdirected’ saying their music had no negative effect on the society.

Stunnner (left) and ExQ