He was 51. He died in the Chitungwiza General Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, the hospital CEO Obadiah Moyo said.
Moyo said he died of diabetes and BP after spending almost three weeks in the Intensive Care Unit. Mashakada was also diagnosed with kidney problems.
The late Mashakada performed in several concerts all over Zimbabwe and released more than 15 albums in a career spaning more than 30 years.
The Vadzidzi Vangu star has been in hospital after doctors had diagnosed diabetes as the cause of the 51-year-old singer's illness, a disease that also saw his leg amputated in 2009.
Moyo thanked Webster Shamu, the Minister of Information and Publicity and patron of the Zimbabwe Union of Music who visited the hospital regularly and helped the singer in his plight. Moyo also thanked other musicians and his wife.
The sungura singer will be largely remembered with his hit album Nyaradzo Yakaitwa released in 2004 — his biggest selling album to date.
Samson, a hit song from the album, was the Zimbabwe Music Awards Best song of 2005.
Mashakada was born in Chinhoyi in 1960. He teamed up with other boys from the small farming town and formed the Wild Ten in 1977. The other members of the group were the late Biggie Tembo who later found fame with the Bhundu Boys, Jacob Teguru, Franco Kazere and the late David Ziome.
The group relocated to Harare, then Salisbury, in 1978 at the invitation of the late Paul Mpofu of the World Tomorrow Band that had toured Chinhoyi.
In Harare, the group found a base at Saratoga Night Club in Highfield, except Biggie and Franco who would become members of the Wild Dragons that later became the Bhundu Boys.
Because they were merging two groups — the Wild Ten and World Tomorrow Band — it was decided that a new name be found and they settled for the Muddy Face. The group was to find its success after Job Mashanda’s emergence releasing hits such as Amai Mandigona, Rakabuda Zuva MuAfrica and Denga Rababa.
When Job left to pursue a solo career that did not blossom, Cephas and Mpofu produced their own hits in PaInyanga, Kilimanjaro and Nherera.
Mpofu left in the late 90s to start his own group, Zambuko Band, but Cephas remained and soldiered on. His backing group has been renamed Sounds of the Muddy Face.
Mashakada is survived by his wife Eunice, and three daughters. Mourners are gathered at 2502 Unit B, Utsanana Rd in Chitungwiza
Post published in: Entertainment