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According to his nephew, Searchmore Karanga, who broke the story to The Herald, Bitu had been well until he started complaining of stomach pains.
“This led to his death and he was laid to rest at his rural home in Hwange’s Dete area on Monday,” Karanga said.
He said his uncle’s death was not just a big blow to the Bitu family but to the music fraternity at large. “It’s a great pain to the entire family considering that he was a pillar of the Bitu clan. His friends and fellow musicians will also miss him, especially Jonah Moyo and his band Devera Ngwena Jazz Band. We don’t know yet if Jonah Moyo has heard the news yet since he is now based in South Africa, ” he said.
Karanga said Bitu will also be greatly missed by some other musicians whom he taught how to play the guitar.
“I remember at one time Tongai Moyo alluding to the fact that Bitu assisted him in perfecting his guitar playing skills,” Karanga said.
He is survived by four children, two boys and two girls. Bitu was instrumental in shaping the future and career of Zhimozhi Jazz Band, from which the famous Devera Ngwena Jazz Band emerged.
When Zhimozhi Jazz Band started in the 1970s, with Jonah Moyo on the lead vocals and guitar, Karanga was on the rhythm in a group that also comprised Jonisayi Machiya and Innocent Bitu. He helped in recording most of the albums that made Jonah Moyo a household name in the local music circles, both at Zhimozhi and Devera Ngwena Jazz bands.
Bitu was also part of the group that toured Europe in the early 1990s, led by Jonah Moyo. Him (Moyo) and Bitu, however, fell out, with the former going on to work with Devera Ngwena while Bitu remained with Zhimozhi. At the time of his death, Bitu and Zhimozhi were employed to entertain workers at Mashava Mine.
Online Reporter