The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube
Post Correspondent
THE year 1992 was a unique dispensation in the country’s entertainment domain.
It was the year when one of the finest songs ever to emerge from the Zimbabwean showbiz was coined.
The song is irresistible and anthemic in night clubs, at public gatherings, weddings, parties and public transport.
The song – dubbed Murambinda – was carved by the late legendary and iconic wordsmith, Paul Mpofu and Zambuko Band.
It is sad that death snatched such a unique and creative wordsmith from our midst.
He left when people were beginning to appreciate his music and talent.
The song was famous for its well-arranged instruments, neatly-crafted lyrics, excellent chord progression, perfect blending of vocals and instruments.
One of the special attributes that make a song good is its ability to evoke a specific emotion of feeling. It was and it is a danceable, yet unique piece of art with a jiti feel.
Murambinda is a timeless classic.
It is a love song.
It is a stern warning to a jealousy rival suitor who tries to woo a friend’s wife by flashing a glitzy life of, among other things, putting on fancy and expensive clothes whenever he visits his home.
In the song, Mpofu advised the rival suitor to desist from such cunning acts, and leave his apple of the eye alone or else it would end in tears.
Mpofu chronicled an arduous journey he undertook from the then dusty village of Murambinda in Buhera District of Manicaland, where he ‘scouted’ his newly-found and unpolished diamond and travelled to settle with her in Harare.
As the song nears its end, and still in its danceable manner, Mpofu equated the song to ‘honey’.
Murambinda, back then was just a small and dusty growth point situated in a communal district of Buhera.
Fast forward to 2024, Murambinda is now a town and everything that is obtaining in this settlement now bears testimony to this.
Everything happening there is now designed to transform it into a modern, smart and inclusive urban settlement.
New buildings are now being approved on the basis of how they help beautify the town and planners are now working on its attractiveness so that it evolves within the parameters of the smart city.
Town status is a journey on its own — and now that Murambinda is a town, efforts are being made to make it a technologically driven settlement with efficient transport and energy systems.
Granting of town status is done through Section 4(1)(a) of the Urban Councils Act, and Presidential proclamation.
Murambinda has a strong footing, given that it is coming from an entirely communal background, with the land being turned into State land and being incorporated into its boundaries.
This means land is basically cheaper as the town board will only compensate for improvements and not the land itself.
A population of about 15 000 people are so far settled at Murambinda.
On reflection, one wonders what could have inspired Mpofu to come up with Murambinda, of all growth points in the country, as the title of his song.
The Manica Post this week tracked down the producer of the song, Bothwell Nyamhondera – a man with 40 years of experience in the music production industry.
“It was and still a very popular song. After its release, the song shook the nation. It was like a national anthem.
“The guitars were unique and well arranged. He was a unique and very creative artiste. Although Mpofu did not divulge much on what inspired him to come up with the song, he was a creative storyteller who often tackled issues that affected people’s day-to-day lives like love, betrayal, marriage and hate, among other things. Back then love songs would not struggle to penetrate the market and become instant hits.
“And Murambinda was just what the doctor had prescribed, and now that the Independence Day celebrations are being held at Murambinda, it will be befitting to have this great and legendary musician honoured for popularising the growth point through such an anthemic song,” said Nyamhondera.
The publication also caught up with Paul Mpofu Junior, who has inherited his father’s rich musical heritage.
Mpofu Jnr, who is now a drummer at Alick Macheso’s Orchestra Mberikwazvo, said although his daddy is late, his memory is still perched in the legions of his followers.
“I was just eight-years-old when he died. I was later told that my father was a storyteller and sometimes his lyrics were inspired by dreams. That song Murambinda is a piece of art and the story never involved my parents.
Unlike what most people thought, my mother does not come from Murambinda.
My mum would always say my father was also an avid reader, and he loved reading Shona poems.
She also said he would craft a song by merely looking at nature or people at a shopping centre,” said Mpofu Jnr.
