By Richmore Tera
A MAN believed to be a relative to the late percussionist, Adam Chisvo, who was laid to rest last week, was given a thorough hiding by fellow relatives after he announced that he wanted to inherit the wife of the late artiste.
The incident occurred at the Chisvo homestead in Dema, Seke, on Thursday evening last week, a day before Chisvo’s burial. According to eyewitnesses, who also included musician Victor Kunonga’s father, the man could not contain his lust towards Priscilla Chisvo and announced his intentions to take her as his wife.
“He could not make it a secret that he wanted to inherit her (Priscilla) as his wife. Akati iye aida kuchitora mukadzi waAdam kuti amugare nhaka. This did not go down well with some relatives who beat him up. It was a very embarrassing situation and most of the people at the funeral were rowdy and very drunk,” said Kunonga’s father, who travelled all the way from Bulawayo to Seke to attend Chisvo’s funeral and burial.
An elderly woman, who was also at the funeral, and who said she was close to Priscilla, confirmed the incident, and could not hide her displeasure at the man’s behaviour.
“Honestly, how can one make such remarks when the body of her late husband has not even been buried? If he wanted her, couldn’t he wait for Adam’s body to be buried and let the process (of inheritance) be done culturally?
“Another issue is that she (Priscilla) is free to do whatever she feels like doing with her life because she is still very young. I don’t think this inheritance thing is the right way for her to go, because she still has so many years ahead of her.
“What she needs to do at the moment is mourn her husband then come out of that phase and focus on her future, not kugarwa nhaka like what that man said. He wants to ruin her!” she fumed. Chisvo was buried on Friday after succumbing to diabetic complications at Harare Central Hospital on Wednesday morning.
The veteran percussionist (46) started his music career at the age of 14 and was part of the mbira Mhuri Yavamatare Project. He also had a stint with the famous Ilanga Band which he joined in 1988 and rubbed shoulders with the likes of Andy Brown, Cde Chinx, Busi Ncube, Keith Faquarhason and the late Don Gumbo.
He then became a session musician playing for the likes of Chiwoniso Maraire, Mathew Kaunda, Willom Tight, Bob Nyabinde and Victor Kunonga, among others.