Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe, has collaborated with an Afropop group, ironically called the Born Free Crew, to release a single that is getting some airplay on national television and radio stations. Keeping things in the family, the album’s executive producer is Mugabe’s Minister of Information, and of course, it’s about colonialism.

The song is called “Toita Sei?” and translates to “What Shall We Do?”. Basically, it is about oppression at the hands of the previous British colonisers.

Mugabe has said that he will he will hold elections early next year, although no date has yet been set, and political analysts have claimed the song is part of a broader move by the ageing leader to attract the youth to vote for him.

Takura Zhangazha said of the single:

It’s a calculated move to try to sell the image of the 87-year-old leader to voters who are over 18-years-old.

The song is generally receiving propaganda-like airplay immediately before news bulletins.

Sung in Mugabe’s native Shona language, some of the lyrics go like this:

In those days youths wrongly thought this country belonged to the British.

Some even believed that they were under British colonial rule because of God’s will.

What shall we do with Rhodesians?

Click here to hear a short extract recorded by the BBC’s Brian Hungwe, as well as some more commentary from locals in Harare.

Recorded at Umsindo Records, “Nhaka Yedu/Our Heritage”, also comes with an accompanying DVD, which we haven’t been able to get hold of yet.

[Source: BBC]