Sungura superstar Alick Macheso broke into tears after shaking hands with President Robert Mugabe at the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Day celebrations at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, on Tuesday.
Mugabe had ordered Macheso to the VIP tent after a “sterling performance” from the Orchestra Mberikwazvo front man and a show of his individual guitar skills that sent the crowd wild.
Macheso mesmerised Mugabe when he played the guitar with his foot, elbow, forehead and then the mouth before a thrilling “Zorai Butter” dance.
The Sungura maestro, in a show of humility, went down to his knees and bowed his head when he greeted Mugabe and his two Vice-Presidents Joice Mujuru and John Nkomo, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Deputy Prime Ministers, Thokozani Khupe and Arthur Mutambara and Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa at the high table. Security chiefs were also at the VIP tent.
Macheso, in the company of one of his dancers, broke into tears after his “dream encounter” with Mugabe.
He first bowed down and kissed the red carpet leading to Mugabe, before he knelt before Mugabe, tears of excitement trickling down his cheeks.
Clasping his right hand that shook Mugabe’s hand on his chest, Macheso shook fans with his left hand saying “he would not greet anyone with the hand that greeted the President”.
“I am honoured to shake hands with the President. I used to hear of him when I started my career as a musician. I never dreamt of meeting him, let alone shaking hands with him. Today (Tuesday) is my greatest day. I am very humbled,” the sweating Macheso said.
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“These are tears of joy. I would like to thank my fans who have kept on supporting me leading to this great day,” Macheso said before being whisked away by military men, who also wanted to pose for pictures with the sungura legend.
But it was Macheso’s antics that stole Mugabe’s heart.
Marching almost to the centre of the National Sports Stadium in military fashion, Macheso and his dancers broke into Borrowdale dance — a slow motion and then the “Zorai Butter” dance, sending the stadium into frenzy.
Throughout Macheso’s performance, it was evident Mugabe was enjoying the proceedings, with Mujuru, Tsvangirai and Mnangagwa on the verge of popping out of their seats with excitement.
Not to mention the legion of his fans who cheered every second of his performance with people taking to dance routines on the terraces.
Macheso, who had been touring the UK recently staging live shows, could not believe his ears when almost exiting the stage, he was called to shake hands with Mugabe.
“I would like to wish my band members and their families well as we continue with the business of entertaining people,” Macheso said.
