“Was Macheso Drunk?” Social Media Erupts Over Tearful Chivayo Tribute
Story By Staff Reporter
Alick Macheso paid a tearful tribute to Wicknell Chivayo after rushing back from a show he had been performing at when Chivayo died.
Macheso breaks down while mourning Chivayo
The sungura star could hardly hold back his emotions as he spoke about his friend’s death.
Macheso arrived late to the funeral gathering because he had been away performing. Once he got back, he joined the mourners to pay his last respects.
During his address, the musician wept openly as he remembered the businessman, and he thanked Chivayo for the support he gave him throughout his life.
In 2024, Chivayo famously gifted Macheso a Mercedes-Benz GLE valued at around US$140,000. He also supported members of Macheso’s band, Orchestra Mberikwazvo, and had recently arranged vehicles as gifts for several members of the long-running group.
Macheso’s grief seemed especially heavy because of the close personal bond the two shared.
Zimbabweans react to the speech
The moving moment also got people talking online.
Some viewers paid attention to Macheso’s voice and unusual way of speaking, and suggested he looked drunk while addressing the mourners. These claims are only speculation, and there is no confirmed evidence that he was intoxicated. His tears and faltering words more plausibly reflect the weight of the moment.
Macheso later described death as a thief that takes people without warning. “Impfa nimulandi — Rufu imbavha,” he said in his tribute. He also prayed for strength for Chivayo’s family and everyone affected by the tragedy.
Chivayo and his wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteke, died in a helicopter crash near Marondera. Their deaths have sparked widespread mourning across Zimbabwe.
