The going gets tough for Macheso

By Problem Masau

HARARE – Alick Macheso’s empire seems to be crumbling faster than he imagined amid revelations that his weekend shows at Pamuzinda Highway Xscape and Harare Gardens were marred by poor turnout.

It appears that the departure of three band members has shaken Orchestra Mberikwazvo as witnessed at the two weekend gigs where the group failed to impress.

Only last week, his recording company, Last Power Media, was closed. Last month, three key band members parted company with the sungura maestro.

Macheso, who is arguably the biggest crowd puller in the country, performed to a paltry crowd on Sunday. His performance was below par. The usually well choreographed moves exhibited by the dancers were nowhere to be seen.

Most fans were left disgruntled and bitter. Macheso’s assistant manager, Jethro Machanza, attributed the low turnout to the football game between Zimbabwe and Egypt played at the National Sports Stadium.

“People decided to watch the soccer match and others could not brave the chilly weather,” he said.

Traditionally, Macheso’s family shows are filled by soccer fans, but this was not to be this past weekend. To blame it on the cold weather also seems to be far-fetched because it was sunny in the afternoon when the family shows usually start. Even the evening temperatures were relatively moderate.

Macheso, like any other local musician, relies heavily on live shows to make money. The shows are a cash cow for Macheso and if the attendances keep on dropping it will spell doom for the “King of Sungura”.

Macheso, who broke away from Nicholas Zakaria’s Khiama Boys, seems to be finding the going tough without some of his trusted lieutenants – Jonas Kasamba and Obert Gomba.

Is this the end of an era for Macheso?

Only time will tell if the man who rose from being a herd boy to be one of the country’s best musicians will rise from this setback.

Though he has replaced some of the “rebels,” the “Shedia” hitmaker seems to be affected by the departure of key band members. He is not taking the departure lightly because he has gone on an offensive describing the quitters as “rotten pumpkins”.

Will the corporate world who had started showing faith in his brand continue to associate with him? Macheso lost out a grand endorsement with one of the leading network companies because of his polygamous marriages.

Will Macheso pen a song for those who dumped him? Macheso is known for takinging out his life’s frustrations through songs as he has done so often in the past?

Songs like “Tafadzwa”, “Chirumumaoko” and “Murondatsimba” reflect Macheso’s life struggles. The Herald