Music Crossroads International rescues Vongai Makonde

glaucoma during the group’s recent tour of Spain.
Makonde was left behind in the Spanish capital of Madrid to undergo two operations, with MCI meeting all the medical expenses.
Music Crossroads Zimbabwe director Mathius Bangure – who accompanied Club Shanga to Spain – said Makonde’s condition was described by physicians as acute.
“After we landed in Spain, it became clearly visible that Makonde was struggling with his eyesight and his condition could have been exacerbated by air pressure and conditions during the flight.
“Our hosts took him to eye specialists who diagnosed him with acute glaucoma and physicians said he risked going blind within six months,” said Bangure.
The first operation on the drummer was carried out while Club Shanga was still in Spain and was successful, while the second one was scheduled for this week.
This meant that Makonde had to remain behind in Spain when the group returned two weeks ago. He is expected home later this month.
Bangure expressed his gratitude to MCI for the noble gesture in looking after the welfare of artists’ health and wished other organisations in Zimbabwe would follow suit.
Meanwhile, Club Shanga – whose founding leader Nickson Sauchi died upon the group’s return from Spain – have completed recording their debut album titled Fullness of Time.
The album was recorded at Gramma Records, with the project being sponsored by Delta Beverages after Club Shanga won last year’s edition of Chibuku Road to Fame.
Club Shanga keyboard player Trust Mutombo said they would be launching the album soon.
“Initially we anticipated recording two albums with the other one being the Music Crossroads project but finally settled for just one album for a start in order to give it a chance for marketing and airplay,” said Mutombo.
He said that while they were in Spain, Club Shanga also recorded a folk song titled “Mwana Anoita Rombe” in which they collaborated with Spanish artists.
“The single we recorded in Spain is very good and currently being mastered back there before its release later this year.
“This collaboration will go a long way in showing that we have matured over the years since our formation five years ago,” said Mutombo.
He said the future of the Marondera-based outfit was not all that bleak following the death of Sauchi, as he had showed them that everything was possible in the music industry.