Renowned Zimbabwean musician and businessman, Innocent Utsiwegota is involved in a business relationship with the ruling ZANU PF party, in which both parties are said to have benefited a lot from the partnership, The Zimbabwe Gazette has learnt.

Close sources hint Utsiwegota is a strong ruling party sympathiser through established publishing house, Mazongororo Paper Converters, a family business which he heads.

However, it has also emerged that the musician is mulling quitting the relationship.

“The ruling party sends circulars whereby they invite businessmen and companies closely linked to them to make contributions towards campaigns or any other events that might require a helping hand.”

“Mazongororo contributes, especially money wise to such activities.”

“This has been the ‘tradition’ of the alliance between the company and the party,” he said.

Born in Murehwa, Innocent Rusununguko Utsiwegota grew up in Harare. His father Zvidzai- who passed away in 2001 ran a chain of businesses. He was the owner of Mazongororo as well as the now defunct Mazongororo Syringes. Most of the children in the family are now part of the family business where Innocent is now director.

Another musician who has been cited as involved in the same type of a business relationship with ZANU PF is Prince Tendai. The musician has been seen roaming around companies like Edisan Group of Companies in Harare (which is in the manufacturing business), as he gets tenders from the government to provide certain services involving vehicle registration plates.

The source said the whole deal has been working very well in the previous years, especially when Innocent’s father was still around.

“The deal is simple and goes like this: Mazongororo makes contributions to the party- whenever required to do so. In turn, the company wins tenders from the government,” he said.

In the music circles, he formed his own record label- Country Boy Records. His hit songs were Country Boy in 1998, In my Dreams in 2001 and recently Where?

Country Boy Records' music is now distributed and marketed through Metro and Corner Studios owing to the former's wish and relaxed contracts for musicians to work with other record companies.

He has worked with the likes of Malvin S, Major E, Decibel and Dino Mudondo- who produced their albums with him.

The source emphasised recently Utsiwegota indicated he was tired of making contributions to the ruling party.

“He hinted they are now getting raw deal. Probably, it is also because the state takes time to pay for the services it would have been given and because of the current hyperinflationary environment, the money quickly loses value,” he said.

It is also understood, the Utsiwegota family was involved in a buy-out of partners- the Badza family. Owing to unethical business practices, Zvidzai (the former deceased owner) used company funds to set up other businesses like Mazongororo Syringes and also bought properties without the knowledge of other shareholders.

These businesses have not been exposed, and today remain family businesses and property.

The source adds the Badzas were given money and houses after the buy-out as they didn’t realise there is more to Mazongororo.

Innocent has been quiet on the musical scene for some time now.

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