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Rita Marley with the late Bob Marley

Bongani Ndlovu : Showbiz Correspondent

Bob Marley’s family will not attend the Zimbabwe Music Awards (Zima) tomorrow, but will accept the late reggae icon’s Lifetime Achievement award through Skype – a video chat service.

Zima spokesperson, Farai Chapoterera said it has since been communicated to them that Marley’s wife, whom they had wanted to receive the award will not be able to travel to Zimbabwe because she is unwell.

“We’d hoped to have Marley’s wife – Rita – to accept the accolade. Sadly, she hasn’t been well so travelling was going to be a problem for her,” Chapoterera said.

Organisers are now hoping to have Rita accept the award through Skype during the ceremony being held at the Harare International Conference Centre. They are also working on an alternative plan where they have requested for a pre-recorded acceptance speech.

“We agreed with the Marley family to have Rita accept the award through Skype. If the Skype thing doesn’t work, we’ll flight a pre-recorded ‘thank you’ from her,” said Chapoterera.

Zima will be honouring the late Marley for the role he played in supporting Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence in 1980. But the coming of his family to Zimbabwe has been marred by controversy as organisers were earlier criticised for not engaging the family in their plans to honour him.

Meanwhile, the awards ceremony which kicks off with a red carpet event at about 6PM will be broadcast live on ZBCtv for those who will not be able to make it to the venue.

General tickets have been pegged at $10 with $25 for VIP. Popular presenter, Tich Mataz will take care of business on the mic.

Ghana reggae musician Ras Blakk who arrived in Zimbabwe last weekend will be the headline act at a concert to be held in honour of President Robert Mugabe and will come immediately after the Zima ceremony.

Artistes performing at the award ceremony are yet to be revealed. All eyes will however be on Zimdancehall musician, Killer T who many felt was robbed at the recently held National Arts Merit Awards. He is gunning for Best Male Artist while his album – Ngoma Ndoimba – is up for album of the year award.