Online Reporter
Forward Nyanyiwa in CARLOW, Ireland
H-Metro Europe Correspondent
Charles Mapalume, popularly known as Marabha in the showbiz circles, was only 10 years old when celebrated bass guitarist David Mankaba of the iconic Bundu Boys band breathed his last.
On June 27 1991, Mankaba who was only 32 succumbed to a long illness and it was revealed then that the bass guitar virtuoso had opened up to his friends that he was HIV positive. Thus, his death was a result of the once deadly virus.
Although it was widely speculated that his fellow band members suffered the same fate, it was Mankaba who managed to crush the stigma barricade and shockingly revealed to the world that he had succumbed to AIDS − even when it wasn’t fashionable to discuss such a “societal ill” that period.
Fast forward 34 years later, popular comedian Marabha who had openly told the world his battle against the virus, albeit on a losing cause, finally resigned to fate.
Charles Mapalume died of Aids related illness on Saturday April 19, 2025 at Harare Hospital.
He was 35.
There are two outstanding resembling features to these deaths. Both persons were celebrities in their own crafts and both of them defied hate, bad labelling, social status and importantly stigma as they rose high above − in logical thinking to tell the world their stories.
Another striking commonality between the duo is their roles within their groups. Mankaba was a guitarist in the iconic Bundu Boys ensemble led by the late legend Biggie Tembo while Marabha played second fiddle to Kapfupi in their Street Theatre group.
Both were supporting acts. However, they rose from the background to tell the Aids story.
That fact that there is a massive difference of 34 years between their confessions, itself tells a dark story about how the country still lag behind to fight the ugly head that is stigma in the fight against HIV and Aids.
Mankaba’s story, which was told in the turbulent years of HIV discovery, when a Tsunami of infections wrecked havoc within a then mesmerised nation was meant to break the stigma impasse and David himself might have reasoned that as a celebrity, his coming out was to in-still openness within the infected and affected.
This was a revelation − maybe at least according to Mankaba, which was going to bring HIV infected people close to their loved ones and importantly highlighting that the virus was not for the less known or poor, but it would also attack the much travelled and famous of the society.
And Marabha’s story, although told to a different generation, under different circumstances, when HIV infection is no longer a surprise, it has the same impact as Mankaba’s − that opening up and revealing HIV especially among the famous might be the right antiretroviral to combat the virus.
However, at least to Marabha’s openness, he was forced to default medication at one time due to stigma.
“I felt more sick when I defaulted treatment. Many people shunned me after l revealed my HIV status and I had to lie that it was a skit inorder to gain love and company again,” Marabha told this writer in February 2025.
“Most people didn’t believe that celebrities can get infected and most of my fans stopped coming to my acts. This somehow disturbed me so much that l ended up not taking the medications and lying that when l made the revelation, it was more of a skit.”
Zimbabwe aims to achieve an AIDS-free generation by 2030, aligning with the global goal of eliminating the once deadly virus by that year.
Among the key objectives of the country’s strategic plan to achieve the goal is addressing negative perceptions and fighting stigma.
The sad tale of Marabha’s last moments in hospital as widely shared on various social media platforms, tell a gloomy picture of a once celebrated comedian neglected by both family and the country that he entertained during his prime.
The gap-toothed comedian who opened up about his HIV fight two years ago commendably traveled the same route which Mankaba pioneered some years back, using their influence and celebrity status in society to fight stigma but again, on both occasions, the country failed to make use of the opportunities and embark on national campaigns especially now that we are only five years short of our target year.
Stigma remains a stumbling factor in reaching the HIV and AIDS 2030 targets. As much as the country has scored in major fronts in the fight against the virus, all efforts seem to go for nothing as people still find it difficult to openly discuss the HIV virus topic.
The country has fared well on the 2025 World Health Organisation (WHO) 95-95-95 targets. That is for 95 percent of all people living with HIV to know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed with HIV to be on treatment and 95% those on treatment to be virally suppressed.
While the country has done splendidly well on the first two 95s, it is the other 95s which need attention as stigma impacts on medication uptake and viral suppression.
Tafadzwa Dahwa an HIV clinician at St Mary’s clinic in Chitungwiza laments that stigma has impacted heavily on the fight against HIV and AIDS.
“The Marabha story is just a tip of an iceberg. There are lots of untold stories about our clients defaulting treatment after their relatives and loved ones found out about their HIV-positive status.
“It’s a worrying trend that as celebrities want to spearhead the fight against AIDS, society still label them as outcasts for contracting the virus much that no one wants to open up,” added Dahwa.
Talented guitarist and songwriter Progress Chipfumo said while Mankaba “opened” the way for many artistes to follow, it was the stigma suffered alone way that scared many people away.
“Remember that there were some pastors and people who opened up after Mankaba in the 90s, who featured heavily on TV advertisements but that died a natural death maybe because AIDS stakeholders never saw the importance of it or they succumbed to stigma as well,” said Chipfumo.
Mathew Masinge