ShaSha Mutare visit in pics

ShaSha (centre) receiving a token of appreciation from the Minister of State for Manicaland Affairs and Devolution Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba last week Thursday. The locally made carving was donated by local artists to appreciate the international star. ZanuPF Manicaland provincial secretary for administration Kenneth Saruchera (extreme left) was part of the dignitaries invited for the meet and greet event.

…ShaSha honoured as Manicaland Arts Ambassador

Ngoni Dapira

THE Amapiano queen ShaSha left no stone unturned in Mutare and charmed even the Minister of State for Manicaland Affairs and Devolution Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba who confessed that though she did not know her music, she instantly fell in love with her striking beauty and humility as an international celebrity.

ShaSha whose real name is Charmaine Shamiso Mapimbiro, had a back to back tour which included visiting Harare, Mutare and Bulawayo where she stayed throughout her childhood and early adulthood years before leaving the country to live in South Africa (SA) in 2017. ShaSha is expected to return to SA this Sunday after having stayed for nearly three weeks in Zimbabwe.

The 26 year old on her Mutare tour left a footprint in the hearts of many who were humbled by her humility and sense of Ubuntu, as she retraced her roots as a ghetto girl that grew up for the greater part of her life with her grandmother in the high density suburb of Dangamvura. From the day she stepped in the eastern border city last week Wednesday, ShaSha was a busy bee, visiting old places she used to hang out in Dangamvura, schools in the ghetto, family and friends, had a meet and greet function with fans which was presided by the resident Minister Dr Gwaradzimba and had a sold-out homecoming party at one of the upmarket nightclubs in Mutare, BarCode. She also visited some tourism resorts such as White Horse Inn where she slept one night and the Mutarazi Falls where she experienced the fascinating zipline and skywalk activities.

ShaSha was driven around and hosted in Mutare courtesy of local sponsors, 515 Luxury Tours which is owned by young entrepreneur Takudzwa Saruchera, Berakah, a health and beauty spar, Lapis Lazuli an events and interior décor consulting agency as well as Peak and Media that was doing the video and photography for the Mutare visit. There was also a video crew from the music entertainment production company NashTV that will be producing a short documentary on the life of the 2020 BET Viewer’s Choice Best International Act award winner, ShaSha, which will include the whole Zimbabwe visit and her meteoric rise to stardom.

During the meet and greet held at Holiday Inn Mutare last week Thursday evening, Minister Gwaradzimba who brought her granddaughter, whom she said was a huge fan of ShaSha, encouraged more Zimbabwean born artistes worldwide to lift high the Zimbabwean flag with pride wherever they are. She was impressed that ShaSha did not forget her roots in Mutare and came back to honour her home town, which she said is very rare as most celebrities become egocentric and pompous, often forgeting where they came from.

ShaSha video clip at the meet and greet event held at Holiday Inn Mutare. Manicaland resident Minister Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba dancing to the Amapiano queen’s music

“You are still very young and beautiful. You don’t look like you are from here (Mutare) and indeed have the looks of a celebrity. We are proud you have managed to rise to dizzy heights at such an age. It is not easy to win an international award, which also put Manicaland on the map as we hear that you often proudly talk about Zimbabwe and Mutare where you mostly grew up. You have traveled world over now but you have remembered that East is home and you are here today…You are linguistic and have conquered the South African Amapiano music to become the queen, so we are indeed proud of your achievements,” said Minister Gwaradzimba.

She said in the past, during her old generation, music was not regarded as a profession. Minister Gwaradzimba said music was associated with failures and it was worse for female musicians who were even labelled as women of loose morals. She said, however, present-day the tables have changed and there is need to nurture talent in the arts even for the girl child, which means there should not be any chauvinism and stereotypes in the arts sector. Minister Gwaradzimba also implored ShaSha to promote other youths and conferred her as an Arts Ambassador for Manicaland. She also encouraged ShaSha to venture into charity work back home, given her background of coming from humble beginnings, where she also had to do low income jobs like being a waitress in restaurants, to raise money for her studio hours to pursue her dreams.

ShaSha talked about how it was not easy to get where she is especially when you do not have money but thanked God for opening doors in mysterious ways for her. She encouraged other artistes to know that following dreams is never a one day event, but it may take years and a lot of sacrifice, so perseverance is needed.

Below is the ShaSha Mutare visit in pictures:

ShaSha with local fans during her Dangamvura visit.

ShaSha at Dangamvura Primary school wearing a Knights basketball team t-shirt. The Knights are a Dangamvura based basketball team.

ShaSha in Dangamvura with a Dangamvura based football team.

ShaSha with Minister Gwaradzimba and her granddaughter during the meet and greet event.

ShaSha with some of the ladies who came for the meet and and greet event to welcome her home.

ShaSha with ladies from 515 Luxury Tours one of the local promoters of her Mutare visit.

ShaSha with one of the invited guests at the meet and greet event.

515 Luxury Tours director Takudzwa Saruchera (right) one of the promoters dancing to a ShaSha track with his father Kenneth Saruchera who was one of the dignitaries at the meet and greet event.