By A Correspondent- ZORA music composer Leonard Zhakata has posted a sorrowful message in remembrance of former Maungwe Brothers partner and nephew Thomas Makion.
Makion died on 10 August 2001.
“Remembering our Music Icon, Family & National Hero, We lost him on this day in 2001. RIP TOMMY MAKION SENIOR,” Zhakata posted on Twitter Tuesday.
The two formed the famous Maungwe Brothers pair that thrilled fans during the early 1990s.
Despite being a group, Makion and Zhakata recorded albums separately.
As relatives, Zhakata and Makion had known each other since childhood. Zhakata was a composer while Makion was a dancer who drew much inspiration from Michael Jackson.
They began working on music when they were still at school.
Because they did not have the resources to assemble a band, the duo sought assistance from groups like Marxist Brothers, Haka Sounds and Real Sounds in the early days of their career.
They then worked with Zimbabwe Stars and got a slot to perform weekly at Mushandirapamwe Hotel in Highfield.
Lady luck smiled on them when, in 1991, a foreign promoter Paula Fraser identified them as a talented group and booked Maungwe Brothers for a European tour.
It was a rare achievement for an upcoming group to be chosen for such a tour when many established artists were making waves in the industry.
In a 2016 interview with local media, Zhakata said Maungwe Brothers disbanded after discovering Makion was rehearsing with another group behind his back, but Makion denied it.
Zhakata said he left Maungwe Brothers after it became clear that the talented dancer was going to leave.
The two had always had an agreement that the first person to consider a solo career would leave everything, including equipment and the name of the band. Zhakata was the first to announce that he was taking a solo path and left everything with Makion.
Besides Makorokoto, Makion recorded hits like Kuparara Kwenyika, Zino Irema and Ndaringa.
However, his career took a downturn and by the time of his death, his popularity has declined.