State assisted funerals for Insimbi Zezhwane members
Providence Moyo
State assisted funeral for Insimbi Zezhwane members
Insimbi Zezhwane members Elvis Mathe popularly known as MaEli and Thembinkosi Mpofu whose stage name was Maviri will be honoured with state assisted funerals, Tsholotsho North Member of Parliament Sibangumuzi Khumalo has revealed.
The two were killed and ten others injured after a tyre burst caused the Toyota Hilux they were travelling in to crush into a tree on the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway.
“Uhulumende uzawuthwala umsebenzi aze ayowugqiba lapho abazangcwatshwa khona abafana, inhlelo zalokho zisenziwa,”
After visiting survivors of the accident at Mpilo Central Hospital in the company of Hon. Musa Ncube, Tsholotsho South MP, Khumalo said five members of the band he had interacted with were showing signs of recovery. However he said the condition of one meber was critical.
He added that the hospitalized band members’ medical expenses will be catered for by the government.
Hon. Khumalo wished the remaining Insimbi Zezhwane members speedy recovery and also revealed that they have not yet been notified on the passing on of their lead vocalist and lead guitarist MaEli together and drummer Maviri.
“We have decided to focus on their recovery first and then this sad predicament will be communicated to them upon recovery particularly when medical practitioners feel the hospitalized band members are ready to receive information because currently they are unstable and can not bear such news. We wish to see Insimbi Zezhwane band moving foward, siyaziqhenya ngabo lanxa behlangana lobunzima obunjengalobu bangabantwabethu. Basiphakamisile njengeTsholotsho basifaka kunzinga eliphezulu. Silusizi ngokulahlekelwa ngabantwana abaluphawu leluba lesigaba kodwa kuyisifiso sami ukubona njalo iqembu libumbana liqhubekela phambili liphakamisa indawo yakithi,” he said.
MaEli is set to be buried in Magabelana, his rural home in Tsholotsho after a memorial service to be held at Bulawayo Amphitheatre on 11 August.
