The Herald
21 October 2011
The Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture has expressed its condolences to the Moyo family and the nation at large following the death of sungura musician Tongai Moyo last Saturday.
Minister David Coltart said Zimbabwe had been robbed of an iconic and illustrious artiste who put the country on the music map through his meaningful compositions.
“(We) join the nation in mourning the loss of a cultural icon of the music industry. Tongai was one of the most illustrious and mega-entertainers in the music industry in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Minister Coltart noted the immense contribution that Tongai Moyo and others in the music industry at large, made towards the country’s Gross Domestic Product through employment creation.
“The Ministry recognises the great work that our musicians do in contributing to job creation and GDP. Tongai had an 18-member band in addition to many others who were in administration. Tongai did his part to popularise sungura music, create jobs for several people and left behind an army of fans that will miss him for years to come,” he said.
He commended Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu’s call for the establishment of a “Hall of Fame” for local artists so that their contribution to the nation will be cherished for posterity.
“The Zimbabwe Union of Musicians patron, Cde Webster Shamu, has expressed a deeply-felt need for a tangible space for honouring our cultural and artistic heroes,” he said.