Hlomela song lands Mlesho in court

Song producer of the famous Hlomela song that scooped Song of the Year award last year, James Mujuru aka ‘Zolasko’, is demanding to be paid P5000 for programming the hit in 2015.

A copy of the summons from Extension 12 Magistrate Court suggests that the song’s artist Mlesho failed to pay his dues after Zolasko produced the song in October 2015 on credit. Mujuru said he has been pestering the artist for a very long time to pay up but his efforts hit a snag as his long-time friend was allegedly lost in fame.

But Mlesho has refuted the price tag from his producer saying that when they recorded the song, it was all about friendship and no receipt was ever issued to him, nor was there any contract. “We entered the studio as close friends and came up with a hit which went on to top the charts.

We agreed that I will give him some cash once I have made it in the music industry without any price tags. I am surprised at my producer’s current stance. I strongly believe that some prominent artists who are envious of my achievements are behind the whole saga,” he said.

He said the court case only came after his famous Hlomela dance moves were performed by President Ian Khama in Tsabong recently. Mlesho said that one local radio station even connived with Mujuru to ridicule him on air for reasons best known to them.

A prominent local producer from Mega Bass studios Dr Tawanda said the charges laid against Mlesho were inflated since the average price to record a song ranges from P800 to P1500 depending on the quality of the studio and popularity of the producer. Chase Solomon Mabutho of Bonfella Records in Francistown corroborated the claim saying it is unheard of for an artist to cough out P5000 for a single song in Botswana.