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Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
REVOLUTIONARY music group Light Machine Gun (LMG) have lamented what they say is unfair treatment as they are overlooked for national events like the upcoming President Mugabe’s 91st birthday celebrations in Victoria Falls.LMG – the choir behind the songs Kubuhlungu and Yithi laba – blasted organisers of these national events for sidelining them yet they had contributed immensely to the liberation struggle, singing revolutionary songs since 1978 when they joined the war in Zambia.

One of the group members, Happiness Sibanda, yesterday said she was unhappy that people like Cde Chinx, who played the same role as them in the war of liberation, were getting more recognition in the country.

“I’m not happy with the way we’re treated as revolutionary composers of struggle songs. In Zambia, LMG was doing the same as Chinx who was in Mozambique.

“But when it comes to these state functions, we’re no longer recognised while we’re the pioneers of this music. If I keep quiet I’ll be contributing to the death of our history,” Sibanda said.

He said since Independence, the group had  never been called to perform at the President’s birthday bashes.

“Since 1980, when we came back from the war, we’ve never been called to the President’s birthday celebrations, but Cde Chinx is always there. We’re the spinal cord of Chimurenga just like Chinx,” she said.

The Umguza District ward 7 councillor under Zanu-PF said even award ceremonies had joined the bandwagon of not recognising them.

“At the 2005 Namas, yes LMG and Chinx won the same award. However, look at the Namas of last year, even if they were held in the city (Bulawayo), they didn’t even recognise us the pioneers of Chimurenga songs in Bulawayo,” she said.

Sibanda said not recognising the role LMG played was tantamount to rewriting history.

“We don’t need to perform at all galas or national events but to get that recognition of how we contributed through music to the liberation of this country. A mere mention or guest appearance is enough.

“If LMG isn’t recognised, then who sang songs for the liberation fighters?,” she asked.

Asked whether the group had made an effort to raise their concerns with national gala organisers, Sibanda said they had done so on numerous occasions without luck, most recently for the 21st February Movement bash to be held in Victoria Falls this weekend.

“We approached the people who organise the event and a man named Chirau to be specific, three times. He always says Hazvisati zvaita. And I doubt they advertised for any auditions for groups who will perform as I watch ZBCtv and read The Chronicle but have never come across such an advert,” she said.

Sibanda said LMG was still alive and kicking as she was adding instrumentals to their music.

“We’ve a song called Chimtundu msere msere that’s out and I just dropped it off at the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association. We’ve added instrumentals to the songs that are acapella to give them a modern feel and make them enjoyable to the youth,” she said.