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complications and kidney failure at Chitungwiza Central Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
Family spokesperson and uncle David Chikwawa said the Sounds of the Muddy Face frontman’s body will be taken to Chinhoyi today.
Mashakada’s body lay in state at his Chitungwiza home last night.
Hundreds of mourners continued to pay their condolences at Mashaka-da’s home.
A carnival atmosphere gripped his Unit B home as musicians performed his songs. Almost all Chitungwiza-based musicians turned up to bid farewell to Motomuzhinji.
Nicholas Zakaria, Alick Macheso, First Farai, Innocent Mijintu, Tedious Matsito, Kireni Zulu, James Nyamandi, Gift Amuli, Pastor Lawrence Haisa and Hosiah Chipanga paid their tribute in song.
Meanwhile, messages of condolence continued to pour in from Masha-kada’s colleagues and fans.
Macheso described Mashakada’s death as a great loss.
“I don’t how best to describe the pain. He has always been there for the people, and for his town of Chitungwiza.
“I saw him on the day that he passed away and he just raised his head and stared at me, not knowing that this was his way of saying goodbye to us.
“He was one of the pioneers of the Chitungwiza Central Hospital Benefit Concert whose aim was to raise funds for the hospital and it is ironic that he has passed away during the same month which the concert is held,” he said. Madzibaba Zakaria said he never expected Motomuzhinji to die so soon.
“I never expected it. Although it is our way, it is, however, a great shock.
He was sick for a long time, lost his leg, God intervened and he resumed his shows only for his health to deteriorate again leading to his death.
“He was very active in issues affecting musicians and was always there at the national galas.
“We hope that his recording company and musicians’ associations will look after his family,” he said.
Band member and dancer Shemu Mashonganyika, popularly known as Chibage, who worked closely with Mashakada for many years, described the late musician as a brother.
“He was like a brother to me. It is going to take us a long time to forget him. We were working on a new album,” he said.
Mrs Ebinah Manasah, a neighbour said: “We knew him through his wife and he became a close friend to my husband. He was a man of the people.
“When intimate problems arose, we would always consult him.”
Oliver Mtukudzi, through his publicist Shepherd Mutamba, described Mashakada as a hero.
“It’s another terribly dark hour for our arts fraternity. We have lost another hero of music soon after Adam Chisvo. Tears will never dry . . . topera rumwe rumwe here?
“That is the will of the Lord. We are subservient to God and his will, no one man can ever challenge in the fullness of time. My wife Daisy, my family and myself are mourning with the Mashakada family and the entire arts sector and nation,” Mtukudzi said.
Sulumani Chimbetu described Mashakada’s death as a big loss to the music industry. Tongai Moyo said he was still in a state of shock and dismay after learning about the death of “Motomuzhinji”.
“I am at a loss of words to describe the death of Mashakada.
“He was a music hero in his own right and he inspired many musicians in Zimbabwe.”
Television personality and radio presenter Barney Mpariwa said it was sad to lose a musician of Mashakada’s calibre.
“They don’t come as big as Mashakada, honestly we have lost another talented and great musician. It reminds me of the days of Ezomgido when we used to play Job Mashanda and others.
“But one thing that beats me is that we seem to have this culture of honouring our musicians after they die and yet we should do that when they are still alive,” he said.
Mourners are gathered at house number 2502, Unit B in Chitungwiza.
Mashakada is survived by his wife Eunice and three children.
Online Reporter