By John Masuku
Fare thee well Kuchie.
I am shocked and equally devastated to learn that Cuthbert Maziwa my primary school classmate at Kudzanayi Primary School (1960s) and secondary classmate at Highfield Secondary School,Harare (early 1970s) is no more.
At primary school in teacher late Hosea C. Mahere’s Standard 6A class Cuthbert and I shared the same desk for two. At secondary school we were together in 3 Arts and 4 Arts classes…and were to remain in the arts and showbiz industry for life.
After school Cuthbert aka ‘Kuchie’ together with his late siblings Canaan and Charles as well as our ex classmate Charles Sifa and others formed EYE Q Band, a youth rock band which became very popular with the songs such as “PLEASE THE NATION” and others like ENIWETH and PEZUMA.
Remember those days late rock music icon Jimi Hendrix of the Jimi Hendrix Experience was a huge favourite to many of us youngsters…especially with his world hit song ‘All Along the Watchtower’.
Kuchie emulated Jimi Hendrix in many ways.
I interviewed Cuthbert a number of times and played his music on my early morning shows on the then RBC African Service,later Radio 2 now Radio Zimbabwe.
Cuthbert later joined the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and worked as a cultural officer for some decades. He is credited for opening and developing the Murehwa Cultural Centre where he promoted the ‘mbende’ dance big time.
Cuthbert was the only surviving sibling the family of late well known Highfield traditional healer ‘Masambaasiyana’ and his wife who lived on the same New Canaan street with broadcaster Ishmael Kadungure, environmentalist-cum- broadcaster, Dynamos founder Morrison Sifelani, father of Kelvin Sifelani , Sakhile-Sifelani Ngoma etc as well as well-known sales and marketing executive of the time Enos Mbofana, Comfort Mbofana of Star FM’s uncle.
My heartfelt condolences to the Maziwa family, Laban Kandi who gave muzukuru Cuthbert his first guitar and family, Charles Sifa of Jerusarema -surviving Eye Q band member, journalist Christopher Muzavazi who also had a stint with EYE Q.
We are now poorer in our Highfield Secondary School ‘Class of 1973â WhatsApp chat group without Kuchie…thank you Mutsvene John Marangwanda, also related to Cuthbert for alerting us about Cuthbert’s demise.
Last but not least ngiyabonga kakhulu dadewethu othandekayo
By John Masuku
Fare thee well Kuchie.
I am shocked and equally devastated to learn that Cuthbert Maziwa my primary school classmate at Kudzanayi Primary School (1960s) and secondary classmate at Highfield Secondary School,Harare (early 1970s) is no more.
At primary school in teacher late Hosea C. Mahere’s Standard 6A class Cuthbert and I shared the same desk for two. At secondary school we were together in 3 Arts and 4 Arts classes…and were to remain in the arts and showbiz industry for life.
After school Cuthbert aka ‘Kuchie’ together with his late siblings Canaan and Charles as well as our ex classmate Charles Sifa and others formed EYE Q Band, a youth rock band which became very popular with the songs such as “PLEASE THE NATION” and others like ENIWETH and PEZUMA.
Remember those days late rock music icon Jimi Hendrix of the Jimi Hendrix Experience was a huge favourite to many of us youngsters…especially with his world hit song ‘All Along the Watchtower’.
Kuchie emulated Jimi Hendrix in many ways.
I interviewed Cuthbert a number of times and played his music on my early morning shows on the then RBC African Service,later Radio 2 now Radio Zimbabwe.
Cuthbert later joined the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and worked as a cultural officer for some decades. He is credited for opening and developing the Murehwa Cultural Centre where he promoted the ‘mbende’ dance big time.
Cuthbert was the only surviving sibling the family of late well known Highfield traditional healer ‘Masambaasiyana’ and his wife who lived on the same New Canaan street with broadcaster Ishmael Kadungure, environmentalist-cum- broadcaster, Dynamos founder Morrison Sifelani, father of Kelvin Sifelani , Sakhile-Sifelani Ngoma etc as well as well-known sales and marketing executive of the time Enos Mbofana, Comfort Mbofana of Star FM’s uncle.
My heartfelt condolences to the Maziwa family, Laban Kandi who gave muzukuru Cuthbert his first guitar and family, Charles Sifa of Jerusarema -surviving Eye Q band member, journalist Christopher Muzavazi who also had a stint with EYE Q.
We are now poorer in our Highfield Secondary School ‘Class of 1973â WhatsApp chat group without Kuchie…thank you Mutsvene John Marangwanda, also related to Cuthbert for alerting us about Cuthbert’s demise.
Last but not least ngiyabonga kakhulu dadewethu othandekayo BAZ Commissioner Audrey Chihota-Charamba aka Naka Jabu for sharing with me your wonderful memories of working together with “mukoma” Cuthbert at The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe(NACZ)
COURTESY: JM Archives.
for sharing with me your wonderful memories of working together with “mukoma” Cuthbert at The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe(NACZ)
COURTESY: JM Archives.
