By Fidelis Manyange
THE recent tragic passing of young Sungura artiste Tatenda Pinjisi has once again cast a dark shadow over Zimbabwe’s arts industry, as road accidents continue to cut short the lives of talented musicians in their prime. Pinjisi’s untimely death adds to the growing list of artistes whose careers and dreams have been cut short by traffic accidents. In many of these cases, their bands have also faded into obscurity, unable to continue without their charismatic leaders. Tatenda Pinjisi, born Tatenda Proud Kahwa, died two weeks ago from injuries sustained in a road accident that also claimed the lives of his bassist Naison Tembo and a female passenger.
Pinjisi rose to fame with his hit song ‘Saina’ from his debut album Rumbidzo Kumusiki. Nicknamed ‘Spanner Boy’ due to his daytime job as a motor mechanic in Msasa, Harare, Pinjisi had a compelling personal story that resonated with many fans. He was not just a musician but also an advocate for youth issues, notably opening up about his own struggles with drug and substance abuse. His decision to share his experiences was meant to educate and encourage young people through his music and public engagements.
Tatenda died at the tender age of 33. He hailed from Kahwa Village in Mutoko and was beloved by the local Budya community. One of his most memorable performances was during a 2015 Radio Zimbabwe roadshow at Mutoko Centre, where he dazzled a bumper crowd with his energy and enthusiasm. That moment was a proud one for the community, which had seen one of its own shine on a national platform. What makes Pinjisi’s death even more tragic is that it was not the first time had been involved in a road accident. He survived two previous near-fatal road accidents in 2019 and 2021. Sadly, the third one claimed his life.
His death highlights a disturbing pattern within the Zimbabwean music industry: the growing number of artistes whose lives are claimed by road carnage. Many of these accidents occur when musicians are either travelling to or from performances. As Nqobile Malinga, a music promoter from Matabeleland, observed: “Some of our musicians perform show after show across the country, leaving them fatigued and drowsy, which leads to accidents.” He also highlighted the issue of artistes driving under the influence of alcohol due to the excitement of performing, and urged them to hire full-time drivers who can rest during shows and safely transport them.
Tatenda Pinjisi now joins a long list of Zimbabwean musicians whose lives have been cut short by road accidents. On March 15, 2010, the nation woke up to the shocking news announcing the death of Sam Mutukudzi, the son of the legendary Oliver Mtukudzi. Sam and his sound engineer, Owen Chimhare, died when their Tata pick-up truck struck the railings of a bridge near the Kuwadzana Extension turn-off on the Harare-Bulawayo road. The vehicle veered off the road, hit the bridge’s guard rails, and plunged into the river bank. At only 22, Sam had already shown immense promise as a musician. In 2023, Zimbabwe mourned yet another rising star, Garry Mapanzure, who died in a horrific car accident in Clipsham Heights along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway. He was only 25. The accident also claimed the life of his sister, Margaret Zigomo.
Mapanzure was widely celebrated for hits like ‘Where Our Hearts Belong’, ‘Wapunza’, ‘Pindirai’, and ‘A Million Tears’. That same year also claimed veteran gospel musician Davies ‘Diva’ Mafunga, who died in an unusual and tragic accident. He was thrown out of a vehicle while attempting to tow another, fatally striking his head on roadside rocks. Following his death, his band disappeared from the music scene, echoing a familiar pattern. The Grim Ripper also struck in 2023, when the Matabeleland music scene suffered a devastating loss with the death of Insimbi ZeZhwane’s lead vocalist Elvis Mathe and drummer Thembinkosi ‘Maviri’ Mpofu. Their Toyota Hilux veered off the road and hit a tree near Fatima High School turn-off along the Victoria Falls-Bulawayo highway.
The group had just returned from a successful performance in Binga. Their unique brand of rhumba was gaining traction across the region, making their loss even more painful. Going further back, the gospel music fraternity still remembers the tragic death of Jacqueline Orleen Vivian Madondo, popularly known as Jackie, on November 17, 2004. She died from injuries sustained in a car accident that also claimed the life of her daughter, Chantelle. Jackie was just 24. Known for hits like ‘Mazuva Acho’ and ‘Achadzoka’, her music enjoyed considerable airplay on radio and touched many lives. In the 1980s, Zimbabwe also witnessed the decline of legendary musician Zexie Manatsa’s career following a tragic road accident that killed his brother, Stanley Manatsa, and destroyed all his musical instruments. Stanley was the only musician in the country capable of playing the iconic ‘crying guitar’ style that defined the Green Arrows’ unique sound. Zexie was in a coma for two weeks and suffered temporary memory loss. His career never recovered, and he later lived in relative obscurity at Churu Farm until the ZAOGA Church came to his rescue.
During his heyday, Zexie courted controversy with songs like ‘Tea Hobvu’, which parodied religious groups such as the Vapostori VekwaMarange. A worrying pattern emerges from these tragedies: many accidents happen during travel to or from shows, often in the dead of night and under strenuous schedules. This calls for a shift in how artistes approach touring. Fatigue, poor road conditions, reckless driving, and inadequate transport arrangements have repeatedly proven fatal. Nqobile Malinga’s recommendation for full-time drivers is a step in the right direction. Event organizsers, record labels, and the musicians themselves must prioritise safety, not just for the performers but for the entire team on the road.
Professional drivers, better scheduling, and proper rest periods should become industry standards. Additionally, the industry needs more structured support systems. Musicians often operate as small, independent units without access to the kind of logistical backing common in other countries. Forming unions or associations that look into artistes’ welfare, including safe transportation, could go a long way in reducing these tragedies.
The role of the public and fans cannot be understated either. While it’s easy to mourn and move on, we must pressure stakeholders to implement real change. Just as sports teams have designated drivers, medical personnel, and strict schedules, so too should our musicians, many of whom spend more time on the road than athletes.
The recurring loss of artistes like Tatenda Pinjisi, Sam Mtukudzi, Garry Mapanzure, Jackie Madondo, and others is more than just a string of unfortunate events. It’s a glaring indicator that the music industry must evolve, not just in sound and style, but in structure and safety. The attention these accidents receive should not fade into sentimental tributes alone. They must serve as enduring reminders and calls to action. Behind each tragedy is a legacy cut short, a band disbanded, and fans left heartbroken. More importantly, behind each one is a preventable death.