Online Reporter
H-Metro Reporter
SOME fans of sungura king Alick Macheso believe his hectic live shows schedule could be a major contributing factor to band members missing in action due to ill health.
However, others argue that Macheso’s status attracts more attention on an issue that is affecting the entire industry.
Others feel the fact that Macheso is still standing despite playing all three roles— singing, dancing and strumming the guitar- suggests the problems are more to do with the individual Orchestra Mberikwazvo members than fatigue.
Macheso is currently averaging two shows per week.
The shows last up to six hours in Zimbabwe and shorter internationally due to stricter restrictions.
December is his busiest month as Orchestra Mberikwazvo stage up to 21 shows in 31 days while he takes a break for virtually the whole of January.
Last week we reported that Macheso was worried by the number of his band members who were battling different health issues.
The latest casualty is lead dancer, Selemani ‘Majuice’ Mpochi, who has been sidelined by a foot injury for over a month now.
There is also Tafi Nyamunda, a rhythm guitarist, who has gone blind.
Elton Muropa has been on the sidelines for several months now while Lucky Mumiriki never returned to the stage after suffering a stroke in 2011.
Below are some of the opinions shared by Macheso’s fans on the issue:
This has been the most consistent musical outfit since 1997, playing on almost every weekend, the packed programme for such a long time and ageing members obviously leads to such issues. Whoever thinks this is unusual needs to have his head checked. Barura Express members, only Innocent Mjintu is surviving, most band members of different groups have died or are silently battling issues because we don’t know them. Orchestra Mberikwazvo is always under the spotlight hence we know almost everything – 28 years of continuous performance is a milestone-Pascal Everson
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With this kind of schedule, tour guide iyi shows kuti kwaMacheso kubasa…it’s not kids’ game —Malvern Gombwe
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Over working, at times they start shows on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday family shows and the travelling, it becomes too much for the body. Yes, it’s about money, but at the expense of what, your health?—Jose Jonas
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Too much working, body needs to rest, I experienced it, I was working on a construction company, we were working Monday to Sunday for one year and all of us we started having health problems and we went to the clinic and they told us to rest, after that I was good and I left that job —Law Muyambo Lobeto
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These guys need fully-fledged rest, kupanana ma off days chaiwo, this is because band raMacheso kubva atange anoshanda murume uyo haazorore, weekend, monthly and yearly are fully booked, munhu anofana kuzorora varume. —Law Junior Mukungure
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A clarion call for the music industry to come up with a welfare system of some sort to cater for such misfortunes. Imagine if Macheso wasn’t behind these guys —Samuel Matiyi
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It’s called fatigue taking its toll. Kuimba 6 to 6, 4 days a week.
International tours are usually set at 2hours a session for a reason. Anything beyond 2 hours for the same group is punishing. — Edwin Sibanda
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I don’t know about the others but Majuice’s condition is nothing but overworking, the way the guy dances non-stop he needs to take a break nje he should train others so he can be off on other days coz umm his absence can be truly felt.—Abigail Sibanda
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Zvekuti over working handione, vanoita three shows per week and they don’t work mahours atinoshanda kumabasa kuzhinji pastage panowanzotanga na11, porohwa 2 hrs dzakasimba, from there vakutochinjana mabreaks, by 3:30 Macheso anenge asara mostly na drummer na rhythmist chete vakuvharisa, sessions it’s only 2-3 hrs, hurwere hunenge hwangouya pamunhu. —Munyaradzi Mukundwi
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Nemashekero anoita Majuicy chiuno haangatadzi kurwara, hazvisi normal zviya hongu moda kufadza vatereri muchishaker zviuno but time yekuzorora yodiwa futi mari haifi yakambopera kutsvagwa Baba Shero asi hupenyu hautsvagwi kaviri—Linia Makuve
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Witchcraft at workplace is real but a broader view, long working hours always busy either GIG or practice. This will affect the emotional being and complicate your health. —Prosper Mandiriza
