Online Reporter
IN yesterday’s edition, we reported that Sungura musician Paradzai Mesi appears to be slipping back to his troubled past after he disgraced himself, and those who have been supporting his rehabilitation, with a shameful show at a Harare joint at the weekend.
Dressed in a suit, Mesi went onto the stage as Somandla “Mafia” Ndebele launched his 26th album at Steak House Pub & Grill in Waterfalls, Harare.What followed left the guests asking a lot of questions.
At one stage, there were attempts to drag him off stage after it became clear that Mesi had lost his way.
Video footage captured by Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub shows Mesi being a nuisance, appearing to be under the influence of something, and clearly in need of help.
Initially, he was seen seated on a couch, drinking beer, and many hoped he was simply refreshing himself before his performance.
However, those hopes were quickly dashed.
He could barely walk and repeatedly pestered stage managers for the opportunity to perform.
When he was finally allowed on stage, he struggled to stand, relying on the microphone stand for support.
To the dismay of the audience, he addressed them in English with words that were not co-ordinated and which did not mean anything at all.
Alick Macheso’s vocalist and drummer, Barnabas Mandipota, tried to support Mesi but his efforts were in vain.
Soma allowed Mesi to continue with his shocking performance.
However, when Barnabas’ microphone was switched off, Mesi’s off-key singing created such a discord that bouncers had to escort him off the stage.Mesi continued to argue with the bouncers, complaining why he was dragged off the stage.
There had been hope that Mesi had turned a corner after his life was rocked by allegations that he had stolen from a shop in Glendale.
The shop owner dropped the charges but what that story revealed to us was that Mesi’s life was in shambles and he was desperate for a helping hand.
It became clear that Mesi was struggling with what appears to be alcohol abuse. When businessman Mudiwa Hood intervened and started to help Mesi, we thought that he was now on the path to recovery.
After all he now had a decent home and some fine clothes and he was now holding some shows.
The expectation was that Mesi would learn from his mistakes and, after some time, we would start to see a man who was now on a different path.
However, the events at Ndebele’s show at the weekend show that Mesi still has a long way to go before he can fully recover.
The worst part of all this is that he appears to be going downhill again.
The ball is in his court and Mesi should know that alcohol abuse almost ruined his life and he should find a way to deal with his love for alcohol.
He is the only one who can help himself.
Others have tried and they can’t keep focusing on him alone.
