THE story of Reuben Mombeshora (61), an Epworth businessman and musician would make many green with envy.
Report by Jairos Saunyama.
His tale can be described best as from grass to grace or from rags to riches. His current physical appearance denotes that of a wealthy man, but an in-depth probing of his early life story shows otherwise. It is unbelievable that this man, who at one point walked almost barefoot, sold buns to earn a living and played a banjo.
During his biblical “Lazarus” times, he was regarded as one of those boys without direction. Those who met him carrying his banjo on the shoulder saw nothing, but a struggling and ragged youth battling for survival.
Whoever has been to Epworth would vividly remember KwaReuben, or Kumazondo which is probably the liveliest shopping centre in the densely populated suburb of Harare.
And for those who have known Reuben as a banjo player, it is hard to believe that he is the same man who has risen from humble beginnings.
“I was a banjo player during the early sixties, music wasn’t paying those days and in fact, we were the poorest people in the country.
“I used to play township jazz, but because of my poor background I vowed to use every cent so that I could achieve what I wanted,” said the soft spoken Mombeshora.
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He started as a nomadic solo banjo player who played to raise school fees after his father’s death.
“When my father died, I had no one to pay my school fees and I had to leave my Sub A lessons to play the guitar. I would record my songs and during those days we were given $2 (Zimbabwe Currency) for a song, it was not much,” he explained.
In 1960, he moved to Highfield from Epworth. There he met Greenford Jangano of Harare Mambos fame together with Daram Karanga, Ashton and Andrew Yuda as well as Frank and Charles Chimumanzi, they formed the Smugglers Band.
Mombeshora had to leave music to concentrate on his business interests in the 1970s and boasted of being the first person to run a shebeen in Epworth.
“I was the first person to run a shebeen here in Epworth. This was a mission farm and people were not allowed to drink or smoke. This did not go down well with me and as a result I would get arrested many times by the whites,” he said.
His breakthrough was to come in 1976 when he was allowed to build a bottle store at what is now called KwaReuben.
“A white police officer whose name I can’t recall said I should regularise my illegal activities. “That is when I built my first shop here,” he said. However, he was forced to leave his business to join the liberation struggle.
“I got employed as a driver at the Japanese Embassy and I would smuggle liberation fighters because my car was never searched. I would travel between Tanzania and Zambia and back to Zimbabwe with the comrades,” he said.
Upon his return, the veteran musician concentrated on growing his business.
But after almost 30 years in hibernation, the musician has connected with his “first love,”— music.
His new album Rutendo, showed that the musician has matured over the years.
Mombeshora revealed that he acquired his properties, among them a big farm, using money from music.
“The little money I got through selling music and live shows is what I used to purchase my Epworth property.
“I then developed and now I am renting out the premises to entrepreneurs. I chose Epworth because this is where I was born and bred.
“I’m now staying in Ruwa, but I belong to Epworth,” he said.
The veteran musician was schooled by prominent musicians such as Greenford Jangano, the leader of the defunct Harare Mambos band and the late Israel Tendai, who sang the song Handei Kumombe, which later became the signature tune of programme Kuverengwa Kwemabhuku on ZBC’s Radio Two.
The musician-cum-businessman has seen it all in the music industry as he was there when the late Peter Kanyowa led the Epworth Theatrical Stratas into a force to be reckoned with.
He witnessed the late Augustine Musarurwa and his Bulawayo Cold Storage Sweet Rhythm Band release the world famous “Skokiaan” in the late 1960s.
Mombeshora is now renting out his buildings at the Shopping Center to concentrate on music.
He has now recruited old horses — trumpeter Daram Karanga (60), Andrew Adams (45), guitarist Ignatius Nyamayaro (60), Heronimo Homo (57) and Chains Asani (57) — to form a band called Cool Action Band. They have since released two albums Sarah and Rutendo.
But it is his success story which is striking.
“I am one of the pioneers of Jazz music in the country and I believe my album will sell like hot cakes,” he said.
