Macheso wishes former band members well

Courage Musariri Entertainment Reporter
ORCHESTRA Mberikwazvo front man Alick Macheso has no hard feeling towards Extra KwaZvose, a band dominated by former Mberikwazvo members. Speaking on the sidelines of his show in Bulawayo, Macheso said he was happy that his former band members decided to form their own outfit, as it shows he has trained and groomed them well.

“Nicholas Madzibaba Zakaria today is called Senior Lecturer because he groomed me, the late System Tazvida and others. We are where we are because he taught us so many things. The same should happen to guys that move from my band. I also wish they go and prosper,” he said.

To date, Zakaria Zakaria, Innocent Mjintu and the quartet at Extra KwaZvose Francis “Franco” Dhaka, Obert Gomba, Jonas Kasamba and Noel Nyazanda have all left Macheso’s band to start their own projects. It remains to be seen if they all will succeed, as already Mjintu has abandoned his project and is now a session musician with different bands. He plays for Energy Mutodi and also the Dembo Brothers.

Extra KwaZvose holds the biggest challenge for Macheso as his former band members started the project in what was viewed by many as a rebellion against him.

“I do not hold a grudge or have bad feeling towards them. That is why when Nyazanda came back from Sulumani Chimbetu after ditching us, we accepted him back. We still talk and all I have to say is I wish them the best. They are like a child that has grown and wants to wean himself from his parents. We have to accept that,” said Macheso.

Mjintu left Macheso and started his own band, Zare, but he has found the going tough and there are reports suggesting he is on his way back to Macheso.

The sungura king, however, refuted the claims.
“I am happy with the band I have, as you can see they are still new but they are capable of matching the antics of my former members. With Mjintu these are just rumours, I know nothing about it,” he said.