Godwin Muzari
14 November 2009
DESPITE being this year's biggest hit-maker in the sungura circles, Josphat Somanje has failed to settle a $250 debt for six months. The Marondera-based musician got the money from a local promoter as a performance fee deposit in June but failed to turn up for the show without an explanation.
Barbara Chikosi of Red Rose Entertainment last week told Standardplus that she has unsuccessfully tried to get the reimbursement from Somanje who keeps promising to bring the money.
"Every time I call him, he says he will bring the money to my office but he does not come," Chikosi said.
"I have since stopped calling him because I would be playing a fool if I keep pestering him about the money yet he is unco-operative.
"I do not want to take legal action and I am just waiting for him to be man enough and remember to pay his debts.
"It is shameful for a musician who has found such fame to spoil his own image like this. I think he needs professional guidance."
Chikosi said she gave Somanje the $250 as outlined in their contract agreement that she would advance half of the performance fee before the show.
The remainder would have been paid after the show.
Somanje received the money a week before the show that was to be held at Young Africa Arts Centre in Chitungwiza but he did not show up.
Somanje confirmed that he owed the promoter but said he would want to resolve the matter amicably.
He said he had worked with Chikosi for a long time before the conflict and was looking at restoring their good relationship rather than just pay back the money.
"I am still looking for ample time when I can go and see her in person. The last time I promised to meet her but failed," Somanje said.
"For me the issue is not about the debt but the relationship that has been broken.
"She contributed a lot to my career and that small amount should not damage this relationship.
"I will send my manager to make an appointment so that I meet her and we discuss the issue.
"Paying back her money is not a problem but I am more concerned about how to approach her to mend our relationship."
The musician said he had failed to turn up for the show in question because he was attending to some family business in a remote part of the country.
Somanje rocked the local music scene with songs Handibvume (Haulume) and Mukaranga off his album This Time which spurred him to overnight fame.
But the musician has had a fair share of management boobs over the year and the recent revelation could add more questions about his professionalism.
He has a record of double-booking gigs, failing to turn up for shows and giving weightless excuses for such failure.
At one moment he turned up for a show without guitars. This was after he had refused to play at a venue where his brother, Daiton, was performing in the vicinity.
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