Zimbabwean Afropop singer Gary Mapanzure dead

Mapanzure’s friend Langton Madima, who was driving the car, died on the spot along with the musician’s niece. His sister Margret Zigomo and her friend Respina Machokoto survived the accident.

Mapanzure’s death brought the country’s healthcare system to the spotlight with the family criticising the government for a poor health delivery system. In their view, Garry, who reportedly waited 12 hours for an ambulance to arrive, would have survived had the healthcare system been stable.

“I have one message which will not be right if I don’t say it today,” Kudzai Mapanzure was quoted as saying at his brother’s burial in Masvingo on 15 October. “The health system in Zimbabwe failed Garry. I want to say it because maybe they may hear us. Maybe Garry would have been alive today, maybe somebody’s life or another child, maybe some other family won’t have to go through the pain we are going through. He held on for 12 hours but there was nothing in Masvingo.”

It is reported that a local private ambulance would not transport Garry to Harare unless the family paid $2 900 upfront. In spite of this, Mapanzure died before he was able to receive medical attention. Although most fans blamed the private ambulance, Hopewell Chin’ono, a fierce government critic and journalist, shifted the blame to the ruling party ZANU-PF.

“In any normal country, the first port of call in an accident is public healthcare then you can move to private if you have the money or health insurance,” Chin’ono wrote on social media. “If you are injured today and taken to a private hospital, they will first ask for your medical insurance or cash, that is just how it works. They are doing this because there are ZANU-PF politicians who have used these services and refused to pay, or deliberately don’t pay on time. The important question should be; Why would someone die for lack of a suitable ambulance in a country where citizens are paying taxes daily? The problem is the ZANU-PF government that has refused to fix the healthcare system. I don’t think that blaming a private medical company for government failures is the right thing.”

Meanwhile, music organisations and artists paid tribute to Mapanzure on social media.

“We have a dark cloud in the entertainment industry and the next song I am performing is dedicated to Garry Mapanzure,” Winky D told fans at Kadoma Music Festival shortly before he performed ‘Panorwadza Moyo’, which features the late Oliver Mtukudzi.

The Zimbabwe Musicians Union wrote: “We would like to express our sincere condolences to Gary Mapanzure’s family, friends and fans. Our hearts are saddened by your loss, and our thoughts are with you.”

Mapanzure’s friend and musician, Hillzy, wrote: “I have no words, Garry. I don’t my bro.”

Freeman HKD also wrote “Rest easy my king.”

Having begun his music career late in 2017, Mapanzure released his first single ‘Wapunza’, which has been watched over 4.3 million times on YouTube as of October 2023. His song ‘TV Room’, a collaboration with Hillzy, won an AFRIMA award for Best Artist, Duo, or Group in African R&B & Soul in 2019. Some of his hit singles include ‘Moyo Muti’, ‘Your Man’, ‘Slow’ and ‘Pindirai’. Mapanzure was also selected for Nigerian artist Mr Eazi’s #EMPAWA100 programme after his song ‘Truth or Dare’ gained popularity.