Macheso fires scruffy band members: Insiders

By Rest Mutore

In what could be a first in sungura, management at Orchestra Mberikwazvo has fired two key band members over dirtiness. The affected members comprise drummer-cum-backing vocalist Watson Fundula and dancer Forward Antonio.

The duo is said to have irked the top brass at Macheso’s camp after abandoning the bands dress code on several occasions. This came to light at New Life Nite Club (formerly Club Lashers) in Budiriro where Macheso was backed by a ‘depleted’ line up, raising more questions than answers.

“Of course the stage was overcrowded as dancers and backing vocalists were too many but that is not the case with Watson and Antonio. Fundula and Antonio messed up for themselves as mudhara (Macheso) was unhappy with their presentation especially on stage,” a mole said.

“The band has a uniform but they decided to come wearing their own clothes which would be scruffy.

“The managers always complained about their stage presentation and what irked them most is that the band wears uniforms and shoes of the same colour but ivo vaitouya havo vakapfeka mabhachi ane tsina futi. The duo would also come late for rehearsals and sometimes fail to come,” added the source.

At Macheso’s show last weekend the two were missing in action with Fundula resurfacing at Peter Moyo’s Utakataka Express. Fundula who once worked with the late Tongai Moyo appeared on stage and played drums before doing backing vocals for Peter on the song Tenda.

Macheso’s assistant manager Jatiel ‘Jethro’ Machanja referred questions to his superior William Tsandukwa whose phone went unanswered. H Metro