Macheso threatens two journalist

SUNGURA kingpin Alick Macheso has barred two journalists from covering any of his shows ' threatening to have them beaten up if they show up at his gigs.

This comes on the back of an expose of the goings-on at Macheso's shows and family life by photojournalist Photovet (real name Takawira Dapi). Macheso, who of late has made it easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a reporter to get a comment from him, said the two were bent on destroying him.

The singer has tightened security around himself, leaving only those "accredited" to him with access and privileges to interview him.

Photovet has since been asked not to even set foot at the maestro's house and music shows. It was Photovet's lenses that exposed to the world Macheso's private life including his two wives.

It was again Photovet who released photos of the musician's two wives at the new house in Eastlea. His lenses, which gave the impression that the photographer enjoyed special access itno the musician's life, also revealed a birthday party held for Nyadzisai, the first wife, by the second wife, Tafadzwa Mapako.

In the few weeks to follow, Photovet would also reveal that Macheso had paid lobola for Tafadzwa.

However, the veteran photojournalist recently incurred the wrath of the sungura king after he revealed to the nation "indecent pictures" taken during one of Macheso's shows.

In an unsolicited interview last weekend in Mt Darwin where Macheso was part of the line-up that performed at the Heroesplush, the sungura artiste declared that Photovet risked being assaulted if he ever showed up at any of his shows.

Macheso charged that Photovet and another journalist from a local daily were trying to destroy his life by publishing falsehoods and obscene pictures taken from his shows.

The veteran sungura artiste said the pictures that Photovet publishes destroy family bonds and scare people off as they fear being photographed while having fun at his shows.

"We have to encourage responsible journalism, but some of you abuse the privileges you have. Why should someone publish stories or pictures that scare people away from my shows? This is my livelihood we are talking about," fumed Macheso.

He added: "The next time they show up at any of my shows, I will simply tell the fans that there is the guy who has been naughty with their pictures. I'm telling you he will be beaten up and I won't even lift a finger because he would have brought it upon himself."

Photovet, who has been banned from many nightspots in the capital because of his aggressive techniques, laughed off Macheso's threats.

"I have been in this game for a long time. I have actually been beaten up, not threatened ' so this is not new to me, if Macheso wants to ban me from covering his live shows, well, it is his decision," said Photovet.

He says it is unfortunate the sungura giant is "conveniently" forgetting that it was Photovet's camera that brought Macheso's image into the public domain.

"It was me who used to take pictures of Macheso while he was still unknown at Khiama Boys, something which strained my relations with Madzibaba (Nicholas Zacharia) as he questioned why I would take pictures of Macheso and not him," he said.

In a telephone interview last week, Jethro Machanja, who is the assistant manager at Orchestra Mberikwazvo as well as the head of security, confirmed that they had resolved as a band not to allow Photovet and a certain journalist (name supplied) anywhere near Macheso.

"Just know that if you are to cover any of our shows you have to bring a different photographer. Photovet is not welcome at our shows," said Jethro.

He added: "If they come to our shows they will risk getting hurt and as head of security I do not want that. So to simplify things I just won't allow them into our shows because they have been warned."

The journalist from a local hard-hitting publication said he was unperturbed by the threats, saying he had actually been warned by his friends inside Macheso's camp not to attend Macheso's shows.

"I believe it will all wear off, he is just upset that I have written truthful but injurious stories about him and obscene pictures have been taken at his shows. We tell it as it is, we do not create pictures or stories ' those things we publish actually took place so I do not see where his problem is," said the journalist.