Controversial sungura musician Josphat Somanje is on the brink of losing three of his crucial band members after he allegedly failed to pay them.
The Haulume hitmaker allegedly failed to source an average of $300 in two months to pay his members.
Somanje was obliged to pay each member approximately $100 soon after completion of his latest six-track album set to hit the markets anytime soon, but the Marondera-based musician failed to secure the cash.
According to a close ally of his who declined to be named, three of his band members who took part in the recording at Zimbabwe Music Corporation (ZMC) are breathing fire following Somanje’s failure to settle the debts.
The three who are threatening to ditch Somanje include Patrick Muzanenhamo (bassist), Tatenda Kwangwari (drummer) and Kelvin Sindi (rhythm guitarist).
“Somanje failed to fulfil his promise to pay the members after the recording of his latest album at ZMC and this did not go well with the members who are now threatening to quit Somanje Stars,” said a source.
“When the members approached him after two months, Somanje told them that his recording stable, ZMC, was going to pay them, but when they approached the recording stable it was a different story.”
The source said they were ordered to bring Somanje with them, a development which infuriated them.
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In a bid to assist, the ailing stable is said to have given Somanje $100 on November 30 to “cool off” the heat. It is, however, alleged that only one band member benefited from the money after he was given a paltry $20.
“Somanje told his band members that he would pay them in kind with musical instruments if he failed to secure cash, but nothing had happened so far,” said the source.
In an interview with NewsDay recently, Somanje admitted failing to pay his band members and begged that the matter be kept under wraps.
“Who doesn’t know that there is piracy and ZMC is selling nothing? Where do they think they will get the money? I know that I owe them, but it’s foolish for them (band members) to go to the papers with this issue.
“ZMC is going to give them their money, but for the meantime things are tight,” he said.
When asked about him giving his band members peanuts after live shows Somanje professed ignorance.
“I don’t know anything about it,” he said. He is expected to release another album very soon following Tendai Mwari, his last album that topped ZMC charts early this year.
