Onward Gangata
THE battle for control over gospel group Boys of Thunder has spilled into the High Court, sucking in Zimpraise Choir ahead of Zimpraise’s 20th Anniversary celebrations this Saturday.
Boys of Thunder are scheduled to perform at the Choir Fest this Saturday celebrating Zimpraise’s 20th birthday.
However, the original Boys of Thunder group led by Clinton Zindoga as the artistic director has filed an urgent chamber application at the High court seeking an interdict to stop a splinter group using the same name from performing at the event and desist from using their name.
They are also seeking the court to order Zimpraise to restrain from publishing and advertising material featuring members of the splinter group using the name Boys of Thunder specifically for the upcoming show.
Zimpraise Trust are cited as the first respondent while Cleopas Danda, Persuade Manyenga,Tinashe Chivhima and Dickson Mukonori are the 2nd, 3rd,4th and 5th respondents respectively.
Danda, Manyenga, Chivhima and Mukonori are all former members of Boys of Thunder.
According to court papers in this publication’s possession, Boys of Thunder were invited to perform at the event which they acceded to.
But some former members of the group who are now part of Zimpraise hijacked the deal, assembled themselves and are appearing on the promotional posters and scheduled to perform as Boys of Thunder.
“It has recently come to the Applicant’s urgent attention that a major upcoming gospel music platform, namely the Zim Praise 20th Anniversary, is scheduled to take place on November 14h 2026,”reads part of the court papers.
“In fact,1st Respondent initially extended an invitation to Applicant
to feature at this event and perform.
“To the utter shock and prejudice of the Applicant, the event organizers and promoters (at the behest of 1st Respondent) released marketing pictures, digital posters, and promotional advertisements billing “Boys of Thunder” as a featured performing act.
“However, upon scrutinizing these promotional materials, the Applicant discovered a severe and unlawful misrepresentation.
“None of the bona fide members of the Applicant feature and instead, members of 2nd– 5th Respondents’ splinter group appear thereon.”
The applicant further argues that:
“To be clear, 2nd to 5th Respondents have no lawful right, authorization, or mandate from the Applicant to use the name “Boys of Thunder,”nor to perform under it, least of all at a high-profile national platform such as the upcoming Zim Praise anniversary event.They are imposters under the brand name, seeking to ride on the coattails of the Applicant’s established reputation to mislead promoters, ticket buyers and the general public.”
The matter was heard at the High Court today with judgement expected on Thursday.
Boys of Thunder are represented by Advocate Tendekai Mukawu of Ndlovu and Dube Legal Practice.
The group was founded in 2005 and are known for hits such as Tsamba Ndoiverenga.
