Fungisai closes boutique

HARARE – Gospel musician Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave has closed a boutique she opened in Harare’s central business district barely six months ago.

The shop named House of Nasya specialised in ethnic wear for women particularly evening gowns, casual wear and outfits for special events.

While conforming that she had indeed closed shop, Fungisai who is also a clothes designer, vehemently denied that she had fallen on hard times.

“Yes it closed a few days ago but because we are working on something bigger,” she told the Daily News yesterday.

“In fact I am opening a Vulnerable Women’s office, a music shop as well as the clothing shop in one place. It was difficult to operate on different locations so the place I found in Strathaven is spacious and can accommodate all this.”

Asked whether it would not be inconveniently located since it is not in the CBD, Fungisai said her loyal customers and fans would not be deterred by that.

“I have people who like my stuff, my music and other services I provide and they can come wherever I will be to access those. Also we use the social media to communicate with people so it will be easier for them to know where exactly we will be based.”

While Fungisai insisted that she had not closed shop due to viability problems, a well-placed source claims that the gospel star’s clothes were overpriced.

“Fungisai designed most of the clothes in her shop which were unfortunately not of very high standard. Maybe she believed too much in her designing ability and in the end unrealistically priced her clothes,” said the source.

Interestingly, the shop that the award-winning gospel star has closed was the same one that was used by controversial dancer Beverly ‘Bev’ Sibanda. Bev set up the boutique with the help of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder Prophet Walter Magaya.

Fungisai is not the only female musician who has opened a clothing shop. Others include the fashion-conscious Cindy and Plaxedes Wenyika-Joka who has a lingerie shop.