Musician held hostage after benefit show flops

By The Standard | Dec. 6, 2015

Organisers of the much-hyped Tedious Matsito benefit show were left with egg on their face after they realised only $38.

By Problem Masau

So dire was the situation that some of the organisers spent the night under the watchful eyes of Matsito band members who threatened to beat them up if they failed to pay them.

Simba-Saini

Ironically, the show was meant to benefit the band leader Matsito and most of the musicians who performed on that particular show did it freely and out of benevolence.

Narrating his ordeal, musician Simba Saini said he was held hostage by Matsito’s band members who were demanding performing allowances.

“I just want to let everyone know what transpired at Matsito show. At the gate we got $38, which paid for the PA system. Snowball, the owner of the other PA system took me to the commissioner of oaths where I signed an affidavit that I have to pay him before December 4,” said Saini.

“Matsito band members held me hostage until the next morning, saying they wanted their performance fees.”

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Musicians said they will, however, contribute to settle the debt accrued from the show.

There was an outcry from fellow musicians saying the figure was too low compared to the people who attended the show. “I think some people lined up their pockets, it cannot be,” said one band member who requested anonymity.

Matsito said there was no embezzlement of money, saying it was just a total flop.

“My manager was at the gate and nothing like that happened. It was just a bad day in office, but I would like to thank musicians who came and supported the noble cause,” he said.

Matsito is one of the celebrated sungura artistes in the country, but things have never been the same after he was involved in a car accident which resulted in his leg being amputated.

He once teamed up with his brothers Jabulani and Mike to form Ngwenya Brothers, a group that sang the hit song Nyaradzo.