Urban Grooves chanter Jah Master and Comedian Kapfupi have angered the people living with disabilities through a song that the duo released this year called Kastep kekufamba.
By Tatenda Hove
The song, which however is getting hot on the airwaves each passing day, is said to be a direct insult to the disabled community who said they are saddened by the lyrics that denegrate them.
In a line on the song, the duo say, Ndirikufamba ka Step kechirema, kuramba ndakabhenda. This, according to people with disabilities activists, is a line in bad test as it stigmatises the vulnerable group.
Chishamiso Maguma, the Founder and Executive Director of Chishamiso Maguma Development Trust which is operating in Chinhoyi and Chiredzi, told this publication that as an organisation that has direct interest in people living with disabilities, they are going to lobby for removal of the line from the song or to have the song completely censored on national radio and Television.
“We are very worried about the level of discrimination that the song brings to the public. It is very painful that someone chides the character of a person living with disabilities. It is not by choice that people with disabilities walk like what the musicians say. We encourage musicians not to infringe on the disabled people’s rights.” Maguma said.
Taona Chenjerai, Chairperson for the people living with disabilities in Chiredzi also weighed in and said the song is a disgrace, and that it must not get airplay because of its discriminatory nature.
“The least I can say is that this song is in bad test towards us the disabled and I am going to do my best to make sure that justice on people living with disabilities is done. We are already discriminated people and for someone to perpetuate this discrimination is unacceptable.” Taona said.
Both Jah Master and Kapfupi could not be reached for a comment.
