CEPHAS Mashakada’s widow, Eunice, has taken over the band after a fallout with her late husband’s right hand man Shame Chibage, who was now the lead singer.
She said she decided to take charge after Chibage organised secret shows behind her back to avoid paying 40 percent of earnings to the widow as per agreement.
“I am now the new lead vocalist of the Muddy Face as Chibage left soon after the confrontation that we had.
“I will die for what belongs to my husband and I will never allow anyone to just come and steal my husband’s property,” she said.
Amai Mashakada said Chibage was claiming that Mashakada owed him an undisclosed amount of money before he died.
She said Chibage allegedly threatened to bewitch her if she did not pay the money, which he started claiming two years after the death of Mashakada.
“Chibage is the one who has been leading the Muddy Face since the death of my husband two years ago.
“He took advantage of that as he started organising secret shows without my knowledge,” she said.
Mai Mashakada said Chibage started organising secret shows as he argued that 40 percent they were giving her for each show was too much.
“When my husband died he left me here in Harare without any other form of income so I have to benefit from the instruments that he left.
“But instead of honouring the agreement, Chibage started having shows behind my back leaving Cephas’ family to starve,” she said.
Amai Mashakada said a few weeks ago she was tipped by a bar owner in Harare to come and see Chibage performing with the rest of the group without her permission.
“Each time I tried to organise a show with Chibage he would take the money from the promoter and when he comes to me he will just tell me that it was a flop.
“After that he would talk to the other band members and they would go and perform at that show without my knowledge,” she said.
She said when she confronted Chibage about the issue at a venue where they were performing without her knowledge, Chibage told her that Mashakada died before he cleared his debt.
“Chibage is arguing that my husband used Chibage’s money in buying his instruments.
“So he is trying to raise that money since I have shown no interest in clearing that debt,” she said.
The widow said since her husband passed away Chibage had never told anyone about that debt.
“Chibage actually threatened to bewitch me with cancer that killed my husband,” she said.
Amai Mashakada said she was prepared to die for what belonged to her husband and her family as Mashakada’s estate was built on music.
When Chibage was contacted for comment over the issue he confirmed his departure from the Muddy Face.
“We had some differences with Amai Mashakada and I have since left, that is what I can tell you for now,” he said.
Chibage refused to comment on claims that he had threatened to bewitch Amai Mashakada. - Chronicle
