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Mutodi, band members at loggerheads

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BELEAGUERED musician Energy Mutodi is at loggerheads with his band members.

BELEAGUERED musician Energy Mutodi is at loggerheads with his band members after he reneged on his commitment to pay their rentals with the money raised during the band’s shows.

Report by Tawanda Marwizi

A band member who spoke on condition of anonymity told NewsDay that they had a contractual agreement with the flamboyant musician which obliged him to pay their rentals.

“We have been told to hold shows so that we can pay our rentals, but according to our contracts, he is supposed to be paying rentals for us, but he is (now) telling us nonsense,” he said.

Over the weekend, Mutodi failed to turn up for shows at Hwenje and Extra Mile where he was supposed to share the stage with dendera musician Tryson Chimbetu although his band members turned up for the shows. On Friday, he appeared before Harare magistrate Don Ndirowei facing allegations of defrauding several people of over $6 million through his housing project. He was granted $500 bail.

Yesterday, his band manager Gift Katulika, aka Shiga Shiga, confirmed that all is not well in the band.

“We have not yet received our rentals as of now and it explains why we have lost one of our talented guitarists to Macheso,” said Katulika.

Mutodi said the money was supposed to come from their shows and not from his pocket.

“They are not supposed to get money for rentals from my pocket, but they are supposed to be holding shows on their own,” fumed Mutodi. A source close to the band said the musician had agreed to pay rentals for band members but he is failing to live to his promise because he is now concentrating on politics.

Recently, the musician failed to foot hospital bills for Innocent Mjintu who went for surgery at Chitungwiza Hospital.