Andy Brown regrets singing for ZANUPF

Andy Brown sang hondo yeminda tunes with former wife Chiwoniso Maraire.

Andy Brown confesses that he will forever rue the day he made a decision to dabble into Zimbabwe’s cut-throat politics.Brown’s once promising music career took a serious plunge the day he embraced Zanu PF, a step he now regrets taking.

Pouring his heart to Standardplus last week, Brown admitted that politics took away the sting from his music and he is now having a hard time fighting his way back into the mainstream arena.

The musician says he no longer wants to have anything to do with politics and revealed that he recently turned down an invitation from a senior government official to attend an important political meeting.Brown is one of the most talented musicians on the local scene but his flirtation with politics compromised him.

He strongly participated in Zanu PF’s hondo yeminda campaign when he teamed up with Sister Flame and Potato to form the Mo’ Fire crew which did the song VaChitepo.

Brown became a darling of the then sole ruling party and featured prominently on a number of national galas the party organised.But that proved to be short-lived glory as Brown’s career took a pathetic tumble with fans from different political views deserting him.The musician has learnt his lesson and is willing to start on a clean slate and stay away from politics.

“The problem with politics is that once you get in it is difficult to get out because you will be labelled a traitor,” Brown explained.

“I had to endure the hardships associated with my political move for the sake of maintaining consistency but things have not been working well in my career.

“I used to have a legion of fans but they have deserted me and it is difficult to convince them to return.

“The new government has given me an opportunity to ward off political ties and start afresh as without any hangings-on. It is a time for a new beginning and I want to start new things.”

He said turning political had left him vulnerable while he thought he would be fully protected.

“I fell head over heels into politics hoping that I would be protected but the guys abandoned me at a crucial time.

“It is very painful to be exposed when you have worked hard for the benefit of the party.”

He said he had been invited to a political conference but refused to go.

“I recently met a senior politician and he invited me to a political conference but I turned down the offer.

“I no longer want to have anything to do with politicians because they can just use and dump you,” he said.

Brown used to command a sizeable following and his shows were well-attended. But that was before he turned political.Some of his popular songs include Mawere Kongonya, Ticha and Mapurisa.The musician has just released another album titled Set that was recorded at Records and Tape Promotion