True Life Story of Cde Chinx

October 4, 2019

Who was he?

A revolutionary musician and song-writer
Real name was Dick Chingaira Makoni not “Dickson” and Chinx was a short name for Chingaira
Born on the 27th September 1955 in Rusape

Spouses

Children
10 between the two wives

Education

Chigora Primary School in Makoni District
After completing his secondary education, he got a scholarship but failed to get traveling documents

Career

1974 he worked at an Engineering plant in Msasa, Harare
1975 he joined the 2nd chimurenga as a fighter but ended up being the head of the Peoples choir instead, due to his love for music
They formed a choir called Takawira in honour of the late nationalist Cde Leopold Takawira
It later changed its name to Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) choir and it was one of the many choirs which boosted the morale of war cadres during the liberation struggle.

After Independence

He worked with Bernie Miller and Keith Farquharson and they recorded hits like “Ngorimba”, “Zvikomborero” and “Nerudo”.
The band later included Don Gumbo of Ilanga and produced hits between 1982 and 1987
Later, he pursued a solo career
Chinx also featured in the 1996 film Flame.
1989, he wrote the score for the South African documentary Limpopo Line.
He then moved from Ilanga to Mazana Movement Band , then with the Mazana Black Spirits
He made hits like “Vanhu vese vemuAfrica” which promoted humanity and unity.
“His song Roger Confirm” became a hit and stayed on the radios for more than 6 months on the top picked charts in 1989 and early 1990
Radios in Zimbabwe have continued to play Cde Chinx’s songs especially during Heroes Day, Independence celebrations and Africa Day holidays
In 2000, he collaborated with the late Andy Brown and Police Band, recording songs for the ruling party during the land reform (3rd Chimurenga).

Awards

“Vanhu vese vemuAfrica” was voted the Silver Jubilee award for the most inspiring liberation war song
Got a double from MNET Africa for the movie Flame in which he played a major role, his song “Maruza Vapambe Pfumi” won the best soundtrack

Controversies

In 2015, he was said to have collapsed and died at the Parirenyatwa hospital but his brother rejected the news saying he was still alive
2016, people declared him dead and news circulated online
his family rejected the liberation war hero status and implored the government to reconsider as he deserved a national hero status, government turned a blind ear.
He suffered and died a popper, government only built him a house after an uproar of citizens who had seen a picture of his almost dilapidated house, which he was living in when leukemia had taken its toll on him.
He is said to have died a bitter man after the handover ceremony of his Sentosa house which was given to Patricia, on his deathbed he asked his benefactor three times “Ko Zodwa pane chamamuitirawo here”. Zodwa is short to Ntombizodwa.

Death
On the 16th June 2017, he succumbed to leukemia and passed on