Chipanga band member speaks on Namibia nightmare

Liberty Dube
INFLUENTIAL band member in Hosiah Chipanga’s Vaparidzi veShoko camp has opened up on their nightmarish and forgettable stay in Namibia where the group was scheduled to stage a series of shows.

The group returned in December last year after a month-long stay which was marred by a series of unexpected incidents that saw them failing to perform at their intended venues mainly due to failure to have work permits.

Although Chipanga, a veteran musician and wordsmith, has not been friendly and forthcoming to some sections of the media, his band member, Augustine “Oga” Malunga who was part of the seven-member entourage that travelled to Namibia, said they could not perform at any other venue besides at the hotel they were staying since the promoter had not secured work permits for them.

They were residing at Monitronics Hotel which is situated in Otjiwarongo and located in the centre of Namibia, 248 km from the capital Windhoek.

“We could not afford to send any money back to Zimbabwe because the promoter could not secure work permits for us to stage a series of shows in the country.

The whole band including Chipanga had Emergency Travel Documents. We could not perform elsewhere except at the hotel where we could entertain guests. We spent the whole month holed at the hotel.

Another barrier that also barred us from performing at the intended venues was incessant rains.

We had no option but to return home.

Our families, mine in particular, started complaining of starvation since we had no money to send them.

“We came here with a few dollars. I regret ever going there because I could have made more money as a session musician here than to stay in a hotel while my family was starving back home.

We were so excited to go there but what transpired there was not what we expected,” said Malunga who has recorded albums with Hungwe Stars, Brian Samaita and Neighbours Sons.

He can play any guitar and can also sing.

He said he was working on his solo album titled Kuvhura Masango (Career Evidence) which is expected to hit the streets end of January.

“The album will carry six tracks which are Ndini Mwari, Mwanangu, Imba Mazimbe, Zvatinoraramira, Regai ndireve and Wako. It was produced by Olin Anderson,” said the 30-year-old versatile guitarist.