By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |
Alick Macheso could travel the painful road that the late Simon Chimbetu endured in showbiz more than a decade ago for his apparent adulation of President Robert Mugabe. The sungura maestro was at the weekend heckled at a Harare show by patrons who expressed anger that he was too close to Mugabe.
Macheso has been playing at functions hosted by Mugabe and the ruling Zanu PF.
In 2012, he seemed overwhelmed that Mugabe had called him over at a State function at the National sports Stadium, breaking down and crying as he held the 92 year-old’s hand.
He later said he had never dreamt he would ever shake Mugabe’s hand, given his humble background playing a tin guitar on a farm.
Patrons caused the temporary halt of his show at Highfield’s Machipisa Shopping Centre on Friday, calling on him to declare his political links before he could continue with the show.
“Can you tell us which political party you support before we stop this show,” barked the fans.
They insisted his impending shows in the UK in a joint tour with Oliver Mtukudzi would flop because of his ties with Zanu PF and Mugabe.
However, Macheso told the revellers that he was not tied to any political party.
“I do not do politics. I am a musician and I am not affiliated to any political party,” he said.
Diasporans in the UK are already threatening to boycott the coming tour.
Mtukudzi has not been spared the same accusation of hobnobbing with Mugabe, also being a regular feature at functions attended by Mugabe or organised by Zanu PF, the latest being the One Million Man March in May.
Simon Chimbetu, a war veteran, suffered a sudden and steep dip in his musical career at the turn of the century for lyrics that still extolled Zanu PF at a time the party was becoming unpopular. Nehanda Radio
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