SUNGURA musician Alick Macheso says he would scamper through the night to trap mice, which he would roast and sell at liquor outlets in and around Dzivaresekwa
The musician said this last Friday when he commissioned a solar-powered borehole in Dzivaresekwa Extension.
Pacific Cigarette Company joined forces with local arts hub Jive Zimbabwe to partner Macheso, who launched his 13th album Kupa Kuturika recently.
“When I was staying here in Dzivarasekwa 2, these areas were my hunting grounds,” he said.
“This area (Dzivarasekwa Extension) were bushes and l would come here to trap or dig up mice for selling to make ends meet.
“It was in 1983 when l had just come from Shamva.”
Macheso said he would also go fishing in the nearby river.
“In that Dzivarasekwa river we would go fishing and many were surprised of my catches,” he said.
The musician said parents should support their children, who would have exhibited talent in music.
“Music pays, l have been all over the world playing music, don't discourage your children, nurture and support them,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to Pacific Cigarette Company and Jive Zimbabwe for the water project.
“Thank you Pacific, this is a great initiative here where water has been a challenge,” Macheso said.
“For years, l have been an ambassador with Red Cross where we would go into the marginalised areas to identify people in need and we would convey the message to the headquarters so that they look for assistance,” he said.
Pacific Cigarette Company, which is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, has over the years been supportive of the local arts industry, thanks to its collaborative efforts with Jive Zimbabwe. The company’s marketing manager Kudakwashe Chiutsi said the borehole project was among the company's corporate social responsibility programme.
“The borehole in Dzivarasekwa to be commissioned by Alick Macheso was our initiative alongside Jive Zimbabwe meant to address the water problems in the suburb,” she said.
“We are looking at a number of projects under our corporate social responsibility programme as we celebrate our 21st anniversary.”
Meanwhile, Macheso brought the Dzivarasekwa community to a stand still as people stampeded to get a glimpse of the musician.
Dzivaresekwa was Macheso's first port of call when he came to live in Harare from Shamva in 1983.
His latest offering Kupa Kuturika has received mixed reactions from fans.