BY STYLE REPORTER
Organisers of sungura musician Alick Macheso’s shows in South Africa are optimistic that the musician would perform in that country before the end of the year.
Macheso was scheduled to perform at two concerts to celebrate his 53rd birthday in June, but the gigs set for Johannesburg were cancelled at the 11th hour due to a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases in that country.
At that time President Cyril Ramaphosa imposed a level two lockdown that included a night-time curfew, which started at 11pm while he also cut the number of people allowed to gather.
However, South Africa has since relaxed its restrictions and allowing gatherings of a maximum of 100 indoors while 250 are allowed to attend events outside.
The organisers of the gigs said they were keeping their fingers crossed that the restrictions are relaxed considering the number of cases of Covid-19 is going down.
“We are hoping that when the president announces the new measures, he will allow gatherings and reopening of arts spaces,” Xtratime Entertainment director Tongai Mbidzo told Standard Style.
“The Alick Macheso show is pending and we have agreed with the musician that if the government gives a nod to gatherings, we will reschedule the gigs.”
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Macheso turned 53 on June 10, and was supposed to have a birthday treat with his fans in Johannesburg with a gig at the Germiston Lounge in Germiston and at Newtown Music Factor in Newtown.
Mbidzo said Computicket had refunded those who had purchased advance tickets, but is hopeful that the Madhawu hit maker would serenade to his legion of fans live in South Africa before the end of the year.
“We have some top Zimbabwean musicians that have inquired on the possibility of them performing in South Africa before the end of the year. We are awaiting the president to allow us to hold music shows and we make announcements,” Mbidzo said.
Mbidzo has in the past organised annual Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi birthday bashes in South Africa meant to celebrate the late singer’s days on earth through song and dance.
Macheso publicist Tich Makahamadze said they were hoping that the Covid-19 restrictions are relaxed in South Africa to allow the musician to reunite with his fans across the Limpopo.
