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Arts Correspondent
Zora maestro Leonard Karikoga Zhakata’s fans have started collecting cash using the EcoCash platform to fund raise for the production of a musical album promoting reading and emphasising the importance of libraries.
The money raised through this unprecedented exercise will be handed over to the Zimbabwe Rural Schools Library Trust by Zhakata, one of the trust’s Goodwill Ambassadors, at a ceremony to be held at the Book Café this Thursday.

Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Honorable Lazarus Dokora, has been invited to officiate at the ceremony.

The EcoCash collection is a brainchild of Dylan Nyika, who has been following Zhakata’s involvement with the ZRSLT since its inception in 2012, and became aware that the trust was experiencing difficulties raising cash to produce the planned album, which will include a song from Zhakata and other prominent musicians.

“Music is a crucial mass communication tool which appeals to many, and we thought we could play our own small part to spread the message about the importance of libraries by supporting the Zimbabwe Rural Schools Library Trust’s plan to use music as its advocacy tool. We started as a small group, but the idea is gradually getting buy-in from other Zora fans. We are indeed thankful to Information and Communication Technology provided by Econet which has enabled even some of our unemployed colleagues to make a small contribution to a noble cause. It’s really like the poor widow’s offering”, said Dylan.

Musicians who have shown interest in contributing a song each to the proposed album include Sandra Ndebele-Sibindi, Jesse O’brien of New Zealand, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Oliver Mtukudzi, Jeys Marabini, up-coming musician Evans Farai Mudzengerere whose song Mvana is doing well on the National FM top hits charts, Sipho Sithole (aka Ranto Bokgo), yet-to-be recorded 14-year-old Faith Kunaka and Pastor Charles Charamba.