Be Exemplary, Minister Tells Macheso!

The minister of Youth Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, Francis Nhema, has urged sungura musician Alick Macheso to be exemplary to the youths as he strikes more endorsement deals.

Alick Macheso

Speaking during the official launch of Macheso’s endorsement deal with Nash Paints last Friday in the capital, Minister Nhema hailed the renowned musician for his great artistry.


“It’s an honour for you Macheso to be associated with such a company and do the best for these youngsters, they have faith in you and that faith must mean a lot to you, amongst all these celebrities they chose you and that should mean something.

“…..I beg you to be exemplary to them. They need your mentorship, they need you to succeed, give to them as they give to you themselves.”

Alick Macheso

Alick Macheso came onto the music scene in 1998, with his debut album Mugariro, which carried "Pakutema munda ", probably the least noticeable from that album. But the first cut never received any recognition and the following year he was to release Vakiridzo. Similarly, the response was lukewarm and in the coming 12 months, he went back into the studio and came out with Simbaradzo. Simbaradzo was to be the turning point is his career and Mundikumbuke and Mai Rubhi brought Macheso into the limelight. He was to follow on the success of Simbaradzo with Zvakanaka Zvakadaro. He can dance, sing and play the guitar - a rare combination of skills among musicians. Zvakanaka Zvakadaro was followed, in 2003, by Zvido Zvenyu Kunyanya.

Macheso was born in 1968 in Shamva, 90 kilometres to the north of Harare, to parents of Malawian origin - a fact that was to inspire him to be able to speak and sing in five languages - Shona, Chichewa, Sena, Venda and Lingala. Growing on a farm, especially before Zimbabwe's Independence from Britain in 1980, the environment did not offer him many opportunities. In 1983, at the youthful age of 15, he left the farm compounds of Shamva to head for the dizzy lights of Harare.
Arriving in the capital at the invitation of a relative, who had been inspired by Macheso guitar-playing prowess at the farm compounds. The two went on a music-inspired journey, joining several bands, mostly sungura-playing outfits.

In 1997, he broke ranks with Zacharia, to form his own Orchestra Mberikwazvo.

He is well known throughout all of Africa as one of the most successful African singers and ranked among the best bass guitarist on the continent. He is Zimbabwe's best-ever selling artiste with his album Simbaradzo being the highest ever sold album in Zimbabwe, a record which is yet to be broken by any artiste in Zimbabwe to date. Macheso is believed to be arguably the best sungura artiste ever to emerge from Zimbabwe although Leornard Dembo (also a sungura great)was also good. In recent years Macheso has risen to become an advertising face for many corporations with his recent achievement being an awardment of the Red Cross brand ambassador.