Megga 1 Bar faces closure

Entertainment Reporter
One of the popular outdoor hangouts Megga 1 in Graniteside, which is set to close down for business this month-end, will tonight host one of its last major gigs featuring Suluman Chimbetu and Progress Chipfumo.
It will be a sad chapter for revellers who came from Mbare and other surrounding areas to enjoy top class acts the likes of Oliver Mtukudzi, Alick Macheso and Jah Prayzah and others.

Suluman and his Orchestra Dendera Kings will have the honours to perform in what could be the last show before the closure.

Ben Mukandi the proprietor of Megga 1 Bar cited a number of reasons for the closure including low turnover.

“Megga 1 Bar Beer Garden is closing at the end of October, having hosted so many bands including the late Dhewa (Tongi Moyo) this huge open air facility has succumbed to many and various factors chief among them, the depressed economic situation.

“Patrons have cut down on luxuries like beer by almost by 70 percent and other than Macheso and Sulu, no other meaningful musical bands could fill the open air garden resulting in many shows failing to cover their costs. This has been further compounded by high rentals,” he said.

He, however, assured patrons that tonight’s gig will be like no other since Sulu and Progress will join forces.

“Sulu has been a regular feature at Megga 1 and was very instrumental in popularising the joint. As a token of appreciation he has been given the honour to close the joint . Most of our fans came from Mbare and as a ‘thank you’ to them we have invited Proggie to partner Sulu. Another one bites the dust it is sad though,” he said.

With a smash hit album “Hold My Hand” to his credit, Proggie is set to thrill his fans at the gig. Chipfumo is a talented lead guitarist and you cannot deny the fact that he is also a good composer and music arranger.

Songs such as “Tsiurika”, “Amai”, “Mangerengere” and “Havakusiyi” show his great artistry and yet not many people appreciate his music.

Sulu commands a huge following which he inherited since the days of his late father Simon Chimbetu. But Sulu no longer rides on his father’s coat tails but has built a firm fan base since he went solo.