THERE was drama at New Life Nightclub in Budiriro on Friday when sungura ace Alick Macheso fumed over the surprise appearance of lead guitarist Donald Gogo on stage.
Report by Tawanda Marwizi
Gogo is one of the band members who deserted the musician on Thursday following a salary dispute.
The visibly angry Macheso pointed at Gogo and instructed him to leave the stage. Gogo seemed to ignore the order and the fracas lasted for about five minutes until promoters intervened.
Other band members that quit Orchestra Mberikwazvo are drummer Obert Gomba and dancer-cum-vocalist Jonasi Kasamba. However, lead guitarist Noel Nyazanda also made a surprise decision to leave the band on Friday just before the New Life show. Sources said Macheso only learnt of Nyazanda’s decision when the band’s driver could not locate the guitarist as he picked up band members for the show.
The absence Kasamba, Gomba and Nyazanda dampened Macheso’s act.
Selemani Mpochi, aka MaJuicy, tried to fill in Kasamba’s shoes while backing vocalist Watson Fundula took Gomba’s position, but they failed to reach the high bar set by the former band members.
The musician had to depend on yesteryear hits for the better part of the show. In an apparent signal that all is not well in his camp, Macheso sought divine intervention through a new song in which he pleads with God to keep him strong in hard times.
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Fans who spoke to NewsDay blasted Macheso for failing to keep his band intact when his camp is facing various challenges.
“He is now taking us for granted. Look at what they are doing on stage. We were used to a certain way of performance, but things have changed and we are not happy,” said a disgruntled fan.
Another fan who identified herself as Mercy said Macheso should pay his band members adequately.
The musician’s band manager William Tsandukwa was adamant that they pay their band members well despite strong complaints from the defectors.
