(MISA/IFEX) – On 3 September 2001, well-known Zimbabwean musician Andy Brown confiscated “Daily News” reporter Aaron Ufumeli’s film during a function. Ufumeli had tried to take photos of the musician, according to a report in the 6 September edition of “The Daily News”. According to the report, on 3 September, at the instigation of a […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 3 September 2001, well-known Zimbabwean musician Andy Brown confiscated “Daily News” reporter Aaron Ufumeli’s film during a function. Ufumeli had tried to take photos of the musician, according to a report in the 6 September edition of “The Daily News”.
According to the report, on 3 September, at the instigation of a disc jockey nicknamed “Frog”, Brown marched the journalist to a car park where he threatened to break his camera if he did not give up the film.
The incident occurred at the official launch of another band, named The Hohodza. The musician accused the newspaper of tarnishing his name. “You people have been trashing me for the past three months and you are enemies of the state,” said Brown.
Background Information
The musician has been on the forefront of campaigns for the controversial fast track land reform programme in Zimbabwe. He launched an album, “Tongogara”, which he dedicated to the government’s land policy.
“If the white settlers fast tracked himself on our land, why not us? We have to fast track the programme and sort out everything else after that,” Brown was reported to have said at the launch.
The newspaper reports that Brown, once a strong critic of the government, has won the trust of the ruling party. His studio has received government funding as a result and the musician has been performing at many state functions.
