Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
The Mandipota family was humbled by the support they received from Alick Macheso, as well as friends and family, following the death of their son Barnabas.
Barna— as he was fondly known — died last week after a short illness, and he was buried at Rimuka Cemetery in Kadoma.
In an interview with Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub, family spokesperson and brother to the deceased, Fastmove Mandipota, said the family was humbled by the support they received.
“Losing someone at a young age is painful, but as a family we have accepted it and we are now moving on,” he said.
“Firstly, I would like to thank Alick Macheso for the support he gave us from start to finish. He stood by us and footed most of the bills to cover the funeral expenses, and I don’t think we could have managed on our own.
“There are also other individuals, groups, and fans who played a big role to ensure that we give Barna a decent burial. The huge send-off he received showed that he was indeed a man of the people.”
Fastmove also cleared the air on allegations that Barna was a victim of foul play.
“Of course, they (Barna and wife) were having arguments at home, him and his wife, like any other couple. But the post-mortem results have proved many wrong.
“As for those who were alleging witchcraft and stuff, people should simply stop spreading lies. I know that with social media we cannot control what people say, but we need to be very careful with what we post or share online,” he said.
Now that Barna had been given a decent burial, Fastmove revealed that the family found closure after the funeral.
“For some of us, we got closure, while other family members are yet to come to terms with it. I also want to say that he has left behind a young family—four sons, with the eldest aged 10, while the wife is pregnant.
“It would be hard for the family since Barna is gone, but we will try our best to ensure that they make ends meet.”
Barna loved his family and his job, which is why thousands graced his burial in Kadoma, where he grew up before joining Macheso. He easily settled well and became a critical team player.
He added: “Growing up, Barna loved music and playing drums. He used to play with tins, but later he fulfilled his dreams as a musician. I know his journey pretty well, but his career was cut short by the cruel hand of death.”
The Kadoma-bred singer started his career with Nakiso Express in Kadoma before he left to work with Gift Amuli. He also worked with Mark Ngwazi, while Somandla “Mafia” Ndebele was one of the sungura veterans who gave him exposure.
With Ndebele, he had two stints with the singer, and they would also meet for studio recordings. He finally made his breakthrough when he joined Orchestra Mberikwazvo after parting way with Ngwazi over disciplinary issues.
At one point, Ngwazi went on a smear campaign against Barna, but the late singer remained mum. Many people will remember him for being a vital cog at Orchestra Mberikwazvo, a group he served with distinction for five years.
“We never had problems with Barna. He was punctual and always on time at work. He was versatile and performed multiple roles in the band until his death. We will always miss him, and the send-off he got proved that he was indeed a man of the people who was adored by many of his fans.”
