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affectionately known as Motomuzhinji by his fans, died aged 51 on Tuesday due to diabetes and kidney complications at Chitungwiza Central Hospital.
Fellow musicians, politicians and fans were part of the huge crowd that turned up in Chitambo, his birthplace, to pay their last respects to a musician and performer par excellence whose songs straddled gospel and secular music.
It was a huge send-off befitting a celebrity of Motomuzhinji’s stature. Some mourners mobbed their favourite artistes among them Amai Olivia Charamba, Alick Macheso and Oliver Mtukudzi in what became a big spectacle.
Media, Information and Publicity Minister, Cde Webster Shamu, patron of the Zimbabwe Union of Musicians, was among high profile figures that graced the burial. In his graveside speech, Minister
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Shamu implored other musicians to take a leaf from Mashakada’s selfless spirit.
“Accomplished and experienced musicians should take a leaf from his selfless spirit which he demonstrated by providing mentorship to several young and upcoming musicians, many of whom have developed to become big names in the music industry today,” he said.
His willingness to play a part in the development of the community, he said, was demonstrated by the lead role he played in mobilising funds for the Chitungwiza Central Hospital where he was chairman of the fundraising committee which spearheaded the popular annual gala. Minister Shamu said Mashakada’s sense of discipline, community responsibility and patriotism will always be a challenge to the country’s young and upcoming musicians.
He, however, urged journalists to be sensitive and report about musicians in a positive light. Minister Shamu said journalists should tell the Zimbabwean story and desist from focusing on Western artists.
“These are our celebrities and it is you journalists who should be telling us about our musicians more than Western artists because their story will never be told in the Western media,” he said.
Minister Shamu also challenged mourners to carry on the ideals espoused by Mbuya Nehanda, Sekuru Kaguvi and other heroes of the 2nd Chimurenga such as Jaison Ziyapapa Moyo and called for peace and unity among Zimbabweans.
Chitungwiza Central Hospital chief executive officer Dr Obadiah Moyo who was part of the medical team that attended to Motomuzhinji, said musicians and the hospital depended on each other.
He chronicled the journey leading to Mashakada’s death starting from when he was diagnosed with diabetes in 2006.
Acting Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman Cde Rueben Marumahoko, provincial Governor and Resident Minister Faber Chidarikire and National Arts Council of Zimbabwe acting director Nicholas Moyo were part of the mourners.
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