The Standard
By Godwin Muzari
4 April 2010
It is rare to see celebrities mingling socially, more so, in the company of their spouses. Often, we see them sharing the stage, heading for a film shoot or sharing ideas in a workshop.
But the Celebrity Dinner dance held by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe in the capital recently painted a different picture altogether.
It was a refreshing scenario of celebrities from across arts genres eating, drinking and dancing together without any professional commitments to adhere to. This was the time to see who among our idols gulps most beers, who has the most beautiful wife or charming husband and who has the greatest appetite. This was the night when gospel diva Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave and her husband, Courage, probably sought to show us that they are really in love. They would steal occasional embraces and whispers as the crowd mingled at the end of formalities. They also managed a number of intimate poses for photographs and went down the stairs hand in hand.
The couple was sitting on the same table with actress Chipo Bizure and her Zambian husband Mapamba Kashekwa.
Chipo appeared so amused getting close and personal with Fungisai. It was apparently their first meeting. She had a barrage of questions and comments for the musician.
Observers could probably have been looking for signs of the first seed of Chipo’s marriage to Kwashekwa. They got married in August last year but her tummy still looks normal.
Well, talking of expecting celebrities, Alick Macheso should know better. He turned up for the dinner with his pregnant wife, Nyadzisai. They are expecting a sixth child.
Maybe Macheso’s siring spree is driven by a desire to have a second son after his beloved teenage child Esau. If so, he should be a disappointed man because the doctors have confirmed that it is a girl. Unfortunately, Mai Macheso’s condition seemed to spoil her choice of fashion. The shoulder strips of her maternity dress were thinner than those of her bra. So she had double-strips of different garments of different colours on either shoulder. But she covered-up on the choice for her husband’s outfit. Macheso was dressed in an exquisite grey suit. The musician, however, could not hide some traits of jealousy. His wife received a call and he listened attentively to the conversations and asked: “Who was it?†just after she put the phone down. This writer was sitting on the same table with the couple.
Gospel music couple, Pastor Charles and Mai Charamba, was calm as the norm when among their fans away from the stage.
They were a direct contrast to Edgar Langevedlt and his wife. The comedian was always fidgeting and cracking jokes at every opportunity. That guy loves his wine and smoke. He was ready to drop a joke at everyone and the wife had to whisk him away after the dinner. He seemed content to spend the whole night chatting. At least he brought his wife, as expected to the dinner.
He was unlike Suluman Chimbetu and other celebs that did not come with their spouses. Chimbetu chose a close friend as his guest but it is not clear who the lady in their company who was denied entrance to the dinner was. The musician said his wife was at their farm in Chegutu.
Well, it was not a surprise that renowned author Aaron Chiundura-Moyo came alone – some call him “Senior Bachelorâ€.
A lot happened but the highlight of the dinner was when Dudu Manhenga and Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana went on stage for a duet. Macheso and Sulumani joined in and it was a time to dance.
Education minister David Coltart, NACZ board chairperson Thokozile Chitepo, Daves Guzha, Prince Tendai and Dominic Benhura exhibited a few dancing skills.
All this time, talented actor Tafadzwa Muzondo was gulping one after another. He had a drinking binge at the dinner.