MUKOMA PANGA BARES ALL

Trust Khosa, Content Coordinator

A CALM and collected Panganayi Hare is sitting under a Musasa tree in Seke communal lands this other Saturday.

He has fallen in love with the rural setting where he runs a thriving poultry project.

The serenity of this rural community is all he enjoys nowadays despite owning a good house in Mabelreign.

Sipping his favourite Castle Lite beer, he appears to be in high spirits as he takes a breather after feeding chickens.

He takes his time to entertain this reporter as he narrates his intriguing and yet gruelling journey as a music promoter, farmer, lawyer and now a musician.

l CALLING

A big fan of the late Simon “Chopper” Chimbetu, Mukoma Panga – as the former arts promoter-turned-musician is fondly known – concedes he ventured into event promotions by default.

Back in the day, many will recall Mo-Tainment Promotions, a stable, which made waves in the Midlands, Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and Matabeleland South provinces.

Household names like US-based Lovemore Majaivana, the late Tongai Moyo, Cephas Mashakada, Beatah Mangethe, Cephas “Motomuzhinji” Mashakada and Chopper did serious business with him.

His gamble in promoting Alick Macheso in his formative years, and ushering Suluman Chimbetu to the world, are some of the unforgettable stories on his CV.

l SACRIFICE

Mukoma Panga says he started off music promotions on April 1 1999.

To his fellows in the legal fraternity, where he belongs, it sounded as one of those cheap April Fools’ Day pranks.

However, they believed him after he plastered and peppered Bulawayo with red posters advertising Chopper’s show at Green Haven Hall.

Then, Chopper was the biggest artist who required a promoter to spend big on him.

“I started music promotions by default to be frank,” he says.

“It was Chopper who approached me when he had legal issues with another Bulawayo-based promoter following a breach of contract.

“Around that time, Chopper was enjoying rave reviews with his album Lullaby.

“He offered me a chance to try music promotions with the help of his younger brother Briam (late) and we organised the bash at Green Haven along Victoria Falls Road.

“The venue was packed to the brim and some fans were turned away amid genuine fears of a stampede’

Mukoma Panga says his relationship with Chopper grew from that point until his death in 2005.

Following the success of the Chopper experiment, he was approached by former Radio 2 (now Radio Zimbabwe) presenter Eric Knight, who persuaded me to promote Alick Macheso.

The Orchestra Mberikwazvo leader had just left Khiama Boys with one album – Magariro – to his credit.

“I booked Bulawayo Large City Hall out of excitement but it didn’t turn out the way we wanted,” he recalls.

“Macheso arrived late for the show since he had problems with transport and only 75 paying fans attended the gig and it was also my first time to meet him.

“I incurred a huge loss but we became friends with Macheso who delivered a spirited performance.”

After Macheso’s flop, Mukoma Panga says Eric Knight assured him Baba Sharo was the future of Zimbabwean music.

“I listened to Eric Knight’s advice and I also spoke to Macheso who was being managed by William Tsandukwa.

“We paid them their balance and we were always in touch.”

l CHOPPER BROMANCE

Mukoma Panga says Chopper kept on pushing him to continue with music promotion despite his busy schedule as a lawyer.

“Chopper saw my potential and he would push me to continue with music promotion despite it being serious gambling.

“I got confidence to keep moving on when Chopper gave me the honours to be the sole promoter hosting his annual New Year’s eve and Heroes holidays shows.

“This was an honour on its own since it meant a lot for me as a promoter and family friend.”

l UNFORGETTABLE CHOPPER MEMORIES

“I once staged Simon Chimbetu’s show at Amazulu Stadium where a huge crowd showed up.

“Chopper had just released the album 2000 Blend, which was well received by fans.

“I was given a police escort to carry the money home amid fears I would be robbed.

“We spent days counting money that we later banked. It was indeed a lot of money and Chopper never demanded a top up as is the case with other artists.

“As my friendship with Chopper grew, we once made a monumental blunder when he missed a show in Victoria Falls while we were chilling in Bulawayo.

“Chopper had staged a show in Gweru and Bulawayo with the crew set to wrap up the tour with another gig at Chinotimba Stadium.

“We had drinks together and he missed the flight to Victoria Falls, which saw the gig being cancelled.”

l TUKU, MAJAIVANA CHAOS

Mukoma Panga says he was fined $17000 when he once hosted Lovemore Majaivana and Tuku’s joint show at Large City Hall.

“Majaivana had not performed in Bulawayo for some time so we decided to host his show in the City of Kings alongside Tuku.

“We were advised that it was supposed to be held in a concert form where fans were expected to remain seated on their chairs.

“And, people being people, they ended up standing on chairs, which were destroyed.

“I was made to pay $17000 which was a lot of money then for the chairs to be repaired.”

l Tomorrow we will publish Mukoma Panga’s views on Macheso, Tongai Moyo and his fallout with football star Lenny Gwata