Entertainment / Celebrity
Macheso talks about his new baby girl
10 Jul 2013 at 19:46hrs | Views
MEN have a tendency to pour out their souls when their emotions are at the extremes. And there is no happier man than one whose wife has just conceived. On Thursday last week, that man was sungura great and Red Cross Humanitarian
Ambassador, ALICK MACHESO (AM). H-Metro Deputy Editor, CHARLES MUSHINGA (CM) caught up with the proud father moments after the birth of his baby girl and he spoke about everything, from his relationship with his wives, how they relate, The Rebels that left him, all his children and their different characters et cetera. Read this one-on-one interview to find out . . .
CHARLES MUSHINGA: Hello vaMacheso, congratulations on the new baby!
ALICK MACHESO: Aiwa tese.
CM: Is it a boy or a girl?
AM: A girl, big and bouncing - 3.8kg baby girl.
CM: That is a big and healthy baby!
AM: Yes, if it was another person we could be talking of operations right now. But Mai (Alick) Junior delivered well with no complications whatsoever. It's because she was taking herbs to prepare for the delivery. If she had only stuck to doctors and modern medicine, we could be talking about a different issue but right now, I'm the happiest man in the world.
CM: You must be, but where you ready for this or you are as surprised as we are, perhaps it is another miracle baby?
AM: (laughing) Ha not at all. We knew everything. Mai junior had even gone for a scan to determine the baby's sex and we knew she was due. I decided to keep it a secret. We said to the family, let us keep quiet about this development and with Mai Junior's (Tafadzwa) built, the secret lived to this day.
CM: LOL, you said Tafadzwa Nyarara and she obliged? So when did you hear about the birth? Or were you here during the delivery?
AM: I missed it by this much! I was coming from the airport where I had accompanied visitors from UK. There was Diane Moody, the programme support manager, Africa International Division for Red Cross and Paul Jenkins, the head of Partnership Development International and I headed straight here (Baines Avenues Clinic) where (Tafadzwa) had been admitted yesterday (Wednesday). As I was arriving, she was delivering and got in soon after the magic.
CM: Nice! So you had brought her to the clinic earlier or?
AM: No. She came here with Mai Sharo yesterday (Wednesday) - you know how those two are the best of friends? They came together and Junior (Alick Macheso Junior, Tafadzwa's first child with Macheso) is at home with Mai Sharo as we speak.
CM: Is it? Not like many twin-wives!
AM: They (his wives, Nyadzisai and Tafadzwa) are unique and that is why I love them. They have bonded well from day one and it has made my family a unit. Pane uyu ndopana uyu. And they don't have many other friends. When Mai Junior leaves home, she is going to maiguru. When someone tries to come in-between them, they combine against that person and ask her about the issue as a pair. Vavengi (haters) have realized that and they have decided to let them play by themselves. Haters try to gossip about one (wife) with the other and they pretend to listen. When both the hater and the wife that was gossiped about are there that is when the hater is asked, so tell us again what you were saying about mai Sharo or mai Junior? Kunyara kunoita munhu! So people have stopped trying to come between them now and they have decided to be best friends havo.
CM: Interesting and the rest of the children?
AM: The children all love each other as well. Like Sharon! She loves junior sooo much, Junior's mother has to beg kuti 'chimbondipaiwo mwana!' and when he goes to the mother, after five minutes he is saying 'Bye'. When she asks where he is going, the answer is always, 'Tayo' (baby language for Sharo) there is just so much love in this family! And everyone wanted to be here when they heard there was a new girl at Baines but they had to stay home because, for now, only husbands are allowed.
CM: You sound like one grateful man!
AM: I am! I am soo happy, and ndinoda kutenda Nyadenga. Iro denga iri zvaririkundiitira gore rino! And the mother is overjoyed too. She now has a boy, Junior, and this new girl who we shall name soon. Hanzi ndava nababa namai, bhudhi nasisi. She is so happy!
CM: Yes, we - the media - never knew she was with child like we did with her first pregnancy. This comes as a huge surprise.
AM: Even with the first child, she surprised many. She had lived a long time from her previous marriage until we met without children and many were convinced that mbereko haibati (she is sterile) but we met and now she has two kids.
CM: She met THE man! LOL.
AM: Aiwa mabasa aNyadenga.
CM: True, so who else knows about the baby? Your band members? Perhaps even the rebels?
AM: About that name - Rebels - it doesn't really go well with me. I feel those guys should use their real name (Extra Kwazvose). Izvi zvema REBEL izvi!? Zimbabwe is too much of a peace-loving nation to have such names.
CM: LOL but other than the name?
AM: Other than the name I am perfectly fine with those guys. We were all band members once and we left and started our own things, but we didn't call ourselves vapanduki, kupandukira ani? We want to work well with each other as musicians not to have rebels amongst us.
CM: You are working well with Tryson as Red Cross Zimbabwe ambassadors?
AM: Very much. In fact, I was with Bhozonde when I came here a few hours ago. He (Bhozonde) has been too good to us! Bhozonde and his wife! God bless that couple. He was showing me the car they want to get Tryson - a Mercedes benz! He already gave him two guitars. He is doing A LOT for us that man! Mukaona takachena soo, it's Bhozonde. He just tells me go to such and such a shop and when I get there - with no questions asked - I get to try variety! "Hoo mauya vaMacheso, edzai izvi!" Bhozonde can call me before a show and direct me to a service station with all the band's cars. This car (his BMW X5) - full tank, Combi yema band members - full tank, truck yema instruments - full tank! I can never finish the number of things Bhozonde is doing for us. I am so grateful, I am so grateful to the Red Cross society for this opportunity I got to help people.
CM: It's always been in you?
AM: Helping people! It has always been my wish! I am one person who just cannot eat whie someone is suffering. Many used to laugh at me before I got this role. I would fill my car with street kids; drive them to the food court over there, ndovati 2-piecer, 2-piecer, 2-piecer! And many would say "why are you wasting your time with them?" But it is not their fault that they are on the streets.
CM: Who is to blame then?
AM: Ndisu varume (it's men), vana vanaMacharangwanda most of these kids! They are children to brave mothers who chose to bear them even though the men responsible had denied paternity. Women who refused to abort who said, (quoting from his song Macharangwanda) kubvisa numbu "kuuraya pamwe nekufa ndichiziva; asi iwewe, Mwari ngaave newe narinhi wose".
CM: So do you still take them out?
AM: I have an even better opportunity now to help them. I used to buy 2-piecers because that was what I could afford. Now, with support from the respectable authorities, I can get a piece of land and - this is my greatest wish - build a centre, a school for children that are disadvantaged where they can learn to read and write, where they can learn life skills and develop their future. I am willing to spend my whole life teaching these children to sing, to play mbira, to dance . . . children have so much potential but it is going to waste. And Red Cross has given me a platform to help. The visitors from UK I left at the airport this morning, Diane Moody and Paul Jenkins, said they are willing to organize fund raising shows for me in UK, in Norway, anywhere amongst the over 180 countries signed to Red Cross Society. I am willing to work for these kids and the elderly who have noone to look after them.
CM: What else has Red Cross done for you?
AM: We do not get paid. You must be willing to help on a volunteer basis. But besides giving me the option to help, they have exposed me and made me known across 188 countries. I now know what to do in public, what not to do and how to behave in public because I now represent the country. There are troubles I could have fallen into, roads that I could have travelled that I do not use because I am now an ambassador.
CM: Back to the new baby, her birth brings your children to what, seven?
AM: Eight actually. There is Sharon, Melissa, Monalisa, Stacey and the new girl - those are the girls. Then boys I have Macnulty (Esau), Tatenda and Alick Junior.
CM: That is a big family, can you tell yet which direction they are headed, career-wise?
AM: Sharon loves singing, but is influenced more along the hip hop lines; Stacey can play the mbira very well and she has tried the guitar too. Macnulty has very flexible fingers too. And Tatenda, he has a great touch on the guitar and he is the one with a good voice. He is in Form 2 but he composes great music if you hear it you will think it was recorded. Him and Macnulty have great potential but Macnulty has conflict of interest as he is also into books and when he sings, he is influenced by RnB but if you listen to his touch on the mbira you will be shocked.
CM: And Junior?
AM: Now - you might have asked as a joke but let me tell you - Junior amazes me. He is too flexible it is outrageous. Ukamuti ita slomo inoitwa chaizvo, even the kochekera dance, borrowdale, zora butter! You name it! He has a small box guitar and he plays it well then imitates me, anombotsika negumbo, omboriisa pamuromo. My mother saw me looking at him all shocked and she said that is what I used to do when I was young. Alick junior! He is something else.
CM: VaMacheso, we can talk all night. Thank you so much and congratulations once again.
AM: Thanks Charles.
Ambassador, ALICK MACHESO (AM). H-Metro Deputy Editor, CHARLES MUSHINGA (CM) caught up with the proud father moments after the birth of his baby girl and he spoke about everything, from his relationship with his wives, how they relate, The Rebels that left him, all his children and their different characters et cetera. Read this one-on-one interview to find out . . .
CHARLES MUSHINGA: Hello vaMacheso, congratulations on the new baby!
ALICK MACHESO: Aiwa tese.
CM: Is it a boy or a girl?
AM: A girl, big and bouncing - 3.8kg baby girl.
CM: That is a big and healthy baby!
AM: Yes, if it was another person we could be talking of operations right now. But Mai (Alick) Junior delivered well with no complications whatsoever. It's because she was taking herbs to prepare for the delivery. If she had only stuck to doctors and modern medicine, we could be talking about a different issue but right now, I'm the happiest man in the world.
CM: You must be, but where you ready for this or you are as surprised as we are, perhaps it is another miracle baby?
AM: (laughing) Ha not at all. We knew everything. Mai junior had even gone for a scan to determine the baby's sex and we knew she was due. I decided to keep it a secret. We said to the family, let us keep quiet about this development and with Mai Junior's (Tafadzwa) built, the secret lived to this day.
CM: LOL, you said Tafadzwa Nyarara and she obliged? So when did you hear about the birth? Or were you here during the delivery?
AM: I missed it by this much! I was coming from the airport where I had accompanied visitors from UK. There was Diane Moody, the programme support manager, Africa International Division for Red Cross and Paul Jenkins, the head of Partnership Development International and I headed straight here (Baines Avenues Clinic) where (Tafadzwa) had been admitted yesterday (Wednesday). As I was arriving, she was delivering and got in soon after the magic.
CM: Nice! So you had brought her to the clinic earlier or?
AM: No. She came here with Mai Sharo yesterday (Wednesday) - you know how those two are the best of friends? They came together and Junior (Alick Macheso Junior, Tafadzwa's first child with Macheso) is at home with Mai Sharo as we speak.
CM: Is it? Not like many twin-wives!
AM: They (his wives, Nyadzisai and Tafadzwa) are unique and that is why I love them. They have bonded well from day one and it has made my family a unit. Pane uyu ndopana uyu. And they don't have many other friends. When Mai Junior leaves home, she is going to maiguru. When someone tries to come in-between them, they combine against that person and ask her about the issue as a pair. Vavengi (haters) have realized that and they have decided to let them play by themselves. Haters try to gossip about one (wife) with the other and they pretend to listen. When both the hater and the wife that was gossiped about are there that is when the hater is asked, so tell us again what you were saying about mai Sharo or mai Junior? Kunyara kunoita munhu! So people have stopped trying to come between them now and they have decided to be best friends havo.
CM: Interesting and the rest of the children?
AM: The children all love each other as well. Like Sharon! She loves junior sooo much, Junior's mother has to beg kuti 'chimbondipaiwo mwana!' and when he goes to the mother, after five minutes he is saying 'Bye'. When she asks where he is going, the answer is always, 'Tayo' (baby language for Sharo) there is just so much love in this family! And everyone wanted to be here when they heard there was a new girl at Baines but they had to stay home because, for now, only husbands are allowed.
CM: You sound like one grateful man!
AM: I am! I am soo happy, and ndinoda kutenda Nyadenga. Iro denga iri zvaririkundiitira gore rino! And the mother is overjoyed too. She now has a boy, Junior, and this new girl who we shall name soon. Hanzi ndava nababa namai, bhudhi nasisi. She is so happy!
CM: Yes, we - the media - never knew she was with child like we did with her first pregnancy. This comes as a huge surprise.
AM: Even with the first child, she surprised many. She had lived a long time from her previous marriage until we met without children and many were convinced that mbereko haibati (she is sterile) but we met and now she has two kids.
CM: She met THE man! LOL.
AM: Aiwa mabasa aNyadenga.
CM: True, so who else knows about the baby? Your band members? Perhaps even the rebels?
AM: About that name - Rebels - it doesn't really go well with me. I feel those guys should use their real name (Extra Kwazvose). Izvi zvema REBEL izvi!? Zimbabwe is too much of a peace-loving nation to have such names.
CM: LOL but other than the name?
AM: Other than the name I am perfectly fine with those guys. We were all band members once and we left and started our own things, but we didn't call ourselves vapanduki, kupandukira ani? We want to work well with each other as musicians not to have rebels amongst us.
CM: You are working well with Tryson as Red Cross Zimbabwe ambassadors?
AM: Very much. In fact, I was with Bhozonde when I came here a few hours ago. He (Bhozonde) has been too good to us! Bhozonde and his wife! God bless that couple. He was showing me the car they want to get Tryson - a Mercedes benz! He already gave him two guitars. He is doing A LOT for us that man! Mukaona takachena soo, it's Bhozonde. He just tells me go to such and such a shop and when I get there - with no questions asked - I get to try variety! "Hoo mauya vaMacheso, edzai izvi!" Bhozonde can call me before a show and direct me to a service station with all the band's cars. This car (his BMW X5) - full tank, Combi yema band members - full tank, truck yema instruments - full tank! I can never finish the number of things Bhozonde is doing for us. I am so grateful, I am so grateful to the Red Cross society for this opportunity I got to help people.
CM: It's always been in you?
AM: Helping people! It has always been my wish! I am one person who just cannot eat whie someone is suffering. Many used to laugh at me before I got this role. I would fill my car with street kids; drive them to the food court over there, ndovati 2-piecer, 2-piecer, 2-piecer! And many would say "why are you wasting your time with them?" But it is not their fault that they are on the streets.
CM: Who is to blame then?
AM: Ndisu varume (it's men), vana vanaMacharangwanda most of these kids! They are children to brave mothers who chose to bear them even though the men responsible had denied paternity. Women who refused to abort who said, (quoting from his song Macharangwanda) kubvisa numbu "kuuraya pamwe nekufa ndichiziva; asi iwewe, Mwari ngaave newe narinhi wose".
CM: So do you still take them out?
AM: I have an even better opportunity now to help them. I used to buy 2-piecers because that was what I could afford. Now, with support from the respectable authorities, I can get a piece of land and - this is my greatest wish - build a centre, a school for children that are disadvantaged where they can learn to read and write, where they can learn life skills and develop their future. I am willing to spend my whole life teaching these children to sing, to play mbira, to dance . . . children have so much potential but it is going to waste. And Red Cross has given me a platform to help. The visitors from UK I left at the airport this morning, Diane Moody and Paul Jenkins, said they are willing to organize fund raising shows for me in UK, in Norway, anywhere amongst the over 180 countries signed to Red Cross Society. I am willing to work for these kids and the elderly who have noone to look after them.
CM: What else has Red Cross done for you?
AM: We do not get paid. You must be willing to help on a volunteer basis. But besides giving me the option to help, they have exposed me and made me known across 188 countries. I now know what to do in public, what not to do and how to behave in public because I now represent the country. There are troubles I could have fallen into, roads that I could have travelled that I do not use because I am now an ambassador.
CM: Back to the new baby, her birth brings your children to what, seven?
AM: Eight actually. There is Sharon, Melissa, Monalisa, Stacey and the new girl - those are the girls. Then boys I have Macnulty (Esau), Tatenda and Alick Junior.
CM: That is a big family, can you tell yet which direction they are headed, career-wise?
AM: Sharon loves singing, but is influenced more along the hip hop lines; Stacey can play the mbira very well and she has tried the guitar too. Macnulty has very flexible fingers too. And Tatenda, he has a great touch on the guitar and he is the one with a good voice. He is in Form 2 but he composes great music if you hear it you will think it was recorded. Him and Macnulty have great potential but Macnulty has conflict of interest as he is also into books and when he sings, he is influenced by RnB but if you listen to his touch on the mbira you will be shocked.
CM: And Junior?
AM: Now - you might have asked as a joke but let me tell you - Junior amazes me. He is too flexible it is outrageous. Ukamuti ita slomo inoitwa chaizvo, even the kochekera dance, borrowdale, zora butter! You name it! He has a small box guitar and he plays it well then imitates me, anombotsika negumbo, omboriisa pamuromo. My mother saw me looking at him all shocked and she said that is what I used to do when I was young. Alick junior! He is something else.
CM: VaMacheso, we can talk all night. Thank you so much and congratulations once again.
AM: Thanks Charles.
Source - zimpapers
