Oliver Mtukudzi Fires Entire Band?

Radio VOP can reveal that Mtukudzi dismissed the band members namely husband and wife Charles Chipanga and Namatayi Mubariki, Never Mpofu and Simba Dembedza.Tuku Music Company that runs Mtukudzi’s business affairs have neither confirmed nor denied the dismissal of the band.

Approached for a comment by Radio VOP in Johannesburg on Saturday night after Mtukudzi unveiled a completely new group at the Joy of Jazz Festival at Newtown, Mtukudzi’s publicist Shepherd Mutamba could only say: “It’s business as usual.” Sources at the Joy of Jazz Festival offices who organised the jazz extravaganza confirmed to Radio VOP that Mtukudzi had indeed fired the band.

The sources said they were made to understand that all four members allegedly “undermined the authority of the music superstar repeatedly” but would not shade  more light. Joy of Jazz sources said Chipanga, Mubariki and Mpofu had initially been listed as part of Mtukudzi’s entourage to Johannesburg but a new list with new names had been resubmitted just before the festival opened on Friday. 

The new band members that Mtukudzi introduced on stage and confirmed by Joy of Jazz sources are Enock Piroro (bass), Max Chiwara (guitar), Blessing Mparutsa (drums) and Strovers Strovers (percussion). Radio VOP is informed that Mtukudzi first played with the new band at the annual Harare Agricultural Show on Friday afternoon before a multitude of show goers that included President Robert Mugabe who watched Mtukudzi perform two songs before leaving. 

On Friday night Mtukudzi is understood to have played with Chipanga, Mubariki, Mpofu and Dembedza in what was to be their last show at the Aquatic Complex in Chitungwiza near Harare while the new band was flying to South Africa for the Joy of Jazz Festival. None of the dismissed musicians were reachable for comment. – VOP