HARARE - Fresh from the snub by the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama), Sungura kingpin Alick Macheso has decided to lick his wounds during a tour of South Africa and the United Kingdom next month.

Macheso, who didn’t win a single award during the 12th Nama award ceremony held in Bulawayo last weekend, will take his latest album Kwatakabva Mitunhu (Kure Kwekure) to South Africa on March 8 and 9 before heading for the UK for shows on 29 and 30 of the same month.

The Samasimba singer is scheduled to stage two concerts in Johannesburg. He will make a debut performance at Chez Ntemba before concluding his South Africa tour with a show at his regular hunting ground, the Safari Hotel.

William Tsandukwa, the Orchestra Mberikwazvo Band manager told the Daily News yesterday that the tour is meant to popularise Macheso’s latest album which he claims is doing well on the local music market despite fierce criticism from certain sections.

Tsandukwa said all is in place for the tour for 16 band members who will make the South Africa trip and the 10 members who will tour the United Kingdom.

“All the travelling documents are in place and we are ready for the tour,” said Tsandukwa.

“We are taking the full band to South Africa but in order to minimise travelling costs we are going to travel with only 10 members for the UK tour,” he said.

The sungura king will perform in Mutare at Mupfumi Place on Friday before invading the popular reggae joint Red Fox in Harare on Saturday where he will share the stage with Mic Inity.

On Sunday, Macheso and his Orchestra Mberikwazvo will thrill fans at Rufaro Stadium in the capital before Zimbabwe champions Dynamos take Bulawayo giants Highlanders in the Bob 89 Cup meant to celebrate President Robert Mugabe’s birthday.

After the Rufaro Stadium show, the Mai VaRubhi hitmaker will proceed to Mtangazi in Ruwa for a family show.

Meanwhile, the Orchestra Mberikwazvo manager has poured cold water on reports that the failure to win a Nama award last weekend reflects that Macheso’s fortunes are now on the wane.

“The Nama people are better placed to tell you why they didn’t consider us”, said Tsandukwa.

“We are not bitter at all because we assume that the Nama people are professionals. They obviously know why they left us out and why they chose those who won awards. We are not worried at all. We will keep doing our own thing and it is up to them to appreciate what we do. Nama or no Nama Awards we will continue to work hard to please our many fans”, said Tsandukwa yesterday. - Vasco Chaya