Alick Macheso has assumed a new role as a community builder. The musician’s background was enough to inspire him to groom talent even from the street.
Report by Tawanda Marwizi “I started my career in Musana my home area in Chiweshe but here I am today.
I believe that these children might carry the country’s name far and I have decided to start a children’s centre,” said Macheso. The musician, who has already acquired land in his former hood in Chitungwiza said the centre will accommodate streetkids and the underprivileged. “We are processing everything as of now but our main thrust will be on streetkids and those who are underprivileged whom I believe will one day take the country’s name far,” he said. Besides establishing the children’s centre, Macheso is nurturing upcoming artists including Tryson Chimbetu, Shame Chibage Mashonganyika of The Sounds of the Muddy Face, Peter Moyo, Morgan and Tendai Dembo and Biggie Tembo Junior. “I have worked with some of these guys’ fathers like Simon and Naison Chimbetu and Tongai Moyo and I was inspired by artists like Leonard Dembo and Biggie Tembo so I feel we, as established artists, have to take responsibility in helping these guys mature,” he said. In his home area, the talented musician is sponsoring different football teams with kits and money for transport. “We have a number of social soccer teams. We have to give them maximum support, you never know, they may be the guys who might form our national team that will take us to the World Cup one day,” said Macheso. The Tafadzwa hit maker said his mother’s old age had inspired him to help a number of old people in his community. “We all came from these mothers and I sat down with my band and the management and we agreed that we have to channel a certain amount to the old people in my home area though I can’t disclose the amount but as I speak they are getting something every month,” he said. “After that song Charakupa I thought it was unfair for me to sing without doing that so from 2005 I started paying school fees for some underprivileged children but I did not want this to be published because I did this from my heart,” he said this while producing receipts as evidence of the good deed. He said by the end of this year he will embark on a musical tour fundraising for most provincial hospitals. “We have done this for Chitungwiza Hospital with other artists but now I feel we have to do it with my troops for other provincial hospitals so that they can be assisted,” he said. The bassist believes ploughing back into the community is a way of honouring his loyal fans. He said he wished to extend his hand to artists who have announced their intention to start arts centres. “We have to be united because everyone will benefit from that and for Nicholas Zakaria’s academy, I will definitely give a hand because I came from that academy through its director Nicholas Zakaria.” concluded Macheso.
