adminSUNGURA exemplar, Alick “Cheso” Macheso has never been known to be a recluse.
The musician is regarded by both his fans and journalists as one of the most outspoken and sociable characters among his peers.
He has never been one to shy away from cameras or dodge interviews, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
Macheso always has one or two choice words to say.
However, a nasty divorce from second wife Fortunate “Tafadzwa” Mapako, and recently announced paternity test results proving he is father to Maneesha and Alick Junior, seems to have driven the otherwise energetic sungura prodigy into hermit mode.
Cheso, who recently indicated that the divorce was eating him up, is now spending most of his time in hibernation. He simply does not want to mix and mingle.
We have always known even from his days in Chitungwiza up to the time that he moved to Waterfalls that the musician at any given time is protected by vigilant security personnel that include relatives, friends and fans.
But the “Tafadzwa” hit-maker has taken his security a step further, enlisting the services of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
Whether he has hired the ZRP to protect him against Mapako (given the threats that he allegedly received from her), thieves or the media, we are still to find out as meeting the veteran sungura musician is now as easy as finding ice in hell.
Prior to the announcement of the paternity test results, Macheso told this publication that he would accept any outcome, though he appeared quite convinced that the two children were not his.
He even guaranteed us an interview the week the results were expected.
The results came and went, and a visit to the musician’s residence and his group’s rehearsal base in Chitungwiza came up with zilch.
We were first told, on Tuesday, by a gentleman at Macheso’s Waterfalls home that the musician was not yet back from a Manicaland tour.
We were advised to return the following day towards lunch time, which we did.
This time, a uniformed ZRP officer manning the gate told us Macheso was around but he needed to seek clearance from us first.
That is when a rather mean-looking fellow approached.
He refused to identify himself, but did not mince his words in making it clear that we would not see the sungura giant.
“What I’m telling you is that Macheso is in but will not be seeing anyone, especially you guys from the media. I don’t mind whether you had arrangements or not. He is asleep and will probably spend the whole day in that state, so please don’t disturb,” he said.
And the musician went on to miss that day’s rehearsals.
“You will not be seeing him even at the rehearsals. The only chance that you will get to see him in public is at live shows but again I don’t think you will be able to talk to him,” the muscle said.
Has the musician discovered that the more a monkey climbs up a tree, the more it exposes its privates, or is he simply in shock or denial?
Online Reporter