Harare — The Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust has posthumously honoured Safirio Madzikatire - one of Zimbabwe's iconic performing artists with a life-size statue.

The imposing statue is a first of its kind as it is made of bronze tinted fibreglass cast by Edward Magwizi who is a fibreglass specialist.

Harare Mayor, Muchadeyi Masunda unveiled the statue at a glittering event held at the newly opened Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust offices in Milton Park where among the guests were his wife - Gogo Thongazi and eldest son Elijah.

Zimbabwe's own superstar Oliver Mtukudzi, prolific sculptor Dominic Benhura, mbira maker Albert Chimedza as well as dub poets Chirikure Chirikure and Albert Nyathi also attended.

Veteran artist Daniel Karavina mooted the idea to honour iconic artists and the project has since started by honouring Madzikatire who was loved and cherished by many local ZTV audiences.

According to Farai Mpfunya, the executive director of the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust, already there are plans to extend the gesture to Mtukudzi and other iconic artists.

Lovingly referred to as Mukadota, a name he got after his popular situational comedy of the same name that occupied ZTV's prime time slot during weekdays in the late 1980s, Madzikatire charmed television-viewing audiences with his razor sharp humour and inimitable antics.

In the drama, he played a zealous villain -- Baba Rwizi who always wanted to destroy other people's relationships. It can be argued that no one actor has quite reached the level of Mukadota, as he was simply in a class of his own. He was best at acting as well as music. Almost all his songs were hits including KwaHunyani, Katarina and Ndatenga Mota.

Many would remember him for his pranks that captivated the audiences including the "Kumaroro" incident which inspired youngsters like Winky D to compose songs based on the jokes.