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Reginald Chirenje
Arts Reporter
Gospel musician Diva Mafunga is expected to be buried tomorrow at his rural home in Mt Darwin, the family has revealed.
The “Endayi Naizvozvo” hit-maker died on Monday morning in a road traffic accident while on his way back to Harare from Bulawayo.
According to family spokesperson, Steady Mafunga, the musician’s body will be taken to his rural home in Mt Darwin today, ahead of burial tomorrow.
“My brother will be buried at our rural home in Mt Darwin and we have set the burial for Friday,” he said. “The musician will lie in state for a few hours at his home before we proceed for rural areas in the afternoon around 2pm,” he said.
Steady said mourners were gathered at 22404 Unit N in Chitungwiza.
Narrating what transpired during the weekend on his Facebook page, his friend, producer cum music director Anthony Gasani said his car first developed a fault that affected the head gasket.
“Still can’t believe he is gone. We had a great show at Chipinge Gala last week on Saturday and went on to Bulawayo for a gala, last Saturday,” he said.
“On our way back to Harare, just 30 kilometres from Bulawayo, his car developed a radiator expansion tank problem and it blew the head gasket. We decided to tow the car to Bulawayo to get it fixed.”
Gasani said Mafunga then instructed the whole band to go home and leave him at the breakdown site.
“I refused to leave him alone. We were together until one of his relatives who stays in Bulawayo got to the breakdown spot and I then took a bus home,” he said.
“We got home safely around 7pm and I sent him a text to find out if they had managed to tow the car safely to Bulawayo and he replied at around 9pm that he left the car at his nephew’s place.
“Yesterday (Tuesday) I got the news from Obert Gomba that shocked me to the core, that Diva Mafunga had an accident and we spent some time arguing because I was telling him that Mr Mafunga is safe. I Still can’t believe and accept it.”
Gasani said Mafunga was a humble man and they had developed a strong bond.
“I can’t help but remember the humility that this man had. I passionately called him Baba Fai (his daughter),” said Gasani.
“On the way to Bulawayo, I noticed he played his music on the car radio and sang along, and was praying all the way.
“We discussed the Christian life and the importance of having a good relationship with God and I remember we at some point discussed going to heaven and we joked that nobody can bribe God to go there. He loved God and was a great gospel music legend.”
Gasani is believed to have recorded Mafunga’s popular gospel reggae album in St Mary’s and he even played guitars on some of his music.
The musician grew up in the rural areas of Chisodza in Mt Darwin where his love for music blossomed.
As his passion for music developed, he started singing in church.
He became popular with his debut album, “Endayi Naizvozvo” in 2003 and further released other albums which were hits in the gospel sector and on the chats.
These include “Fambai Nekutenda” (2004), Pfuurirai Mberi'(2005), “Ndicharamba Ndichidana (2007), Spiritual Battle,” Zvangu Zvita and Ndatenda Ndapinda.
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