A PRINCIPLE is not a principle until it costs you something, so they say. But how much is Zimbabwean music icon Thomas Mapfumo willing to lose for him to gain and secure his life? Well, call it a change of heart or, rather, attitude by Mapfumo.
JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA
We can exclusively report that the self-exiled Chimurenga music guru is considering taking mogul Wicknell Chivayo’s offer to return home to Zimbabwe to an expensive home and a tempting sum of cash.
A whopping US$700 000, comprising a fully furnished suburban house, a Toyota Landcruiser SUV worth US$200 000 and US$100 000 as pocket money is what the controversial wealthy Chivayo is offering the man they call Mukanya.
According to Chivayo the offer was meant to entice Mukanya to show remorse for his anti-Zanu-PF government stance. Mapfumo accuses the ruling party of running down the country over the past four decades. Mukanya, an icon of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle through his protest music, is now in the twilight of his career.
He has hinted on a number of occasions that he wants to return home to retire and spend the rest of his life there. Chivayo, an outspoken pro-ZanuPF activist, took to Facebook a few months ago with the tempting offer for Mapfumo.
He wrote: “It’s an OPEN SECRET that I offered Mukanya a small token of US$700,000 in recognition of his REMARKABLE contribution during the liberation struggle. His music was an inspiration to the SECOND CHIMURENGA which ushered political and economic independence that we all celebrate today.
“In good faith, I offered to buy him a fully furnished house of his choice in the low-density suburbs of Harare, a brand new 2024 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER VXR or equivalent worth 200 thousand dollars and US$100,000 pocket money to make his twilight retirement in Zimbabwe more comfortable as an 81-year-old celebrated music icon,” he wrote.
“My gesture was not on account of any political consideration but an olive branch being extended to an aged man who has been living in abjection and self-imposed exile from a country whose independence he contributed towards. It is highly REGRETTABLE that opportunistic and rent-seeking POLITICAL STOOGES… thrive on peddling FALSEHOODS that my generosity is an attempt to ‘bribe’ Mukanya. What a SHAME!
“Whether MUKANYA accepts my offer or not does not change my handsome bank balance or will it deter my PHILANTHROPIC work. IT’S HIS LOSS… You must never be deceived by these hopeless online sycophants that rejecting this LIFE CHANGING offer will make you an overnight hero.” According to Chivayo, the last time Mukanya was in Zimbabwe he led a near-destitute life, forcing him to put up in businessman Phillip Chiyangwa’s backyard.
“I also find Mukanya’s description and comments of fellow musicians Jah Prayzah and (Alick) Macheso as ‘poor’ to be DISGRACEFUL, especially considering his destitution in foreign land.
“The last time he was in Zimbabwe he had nowhere to stay and eventually (he) slept in Phillip Chiyangwa’s garage. This should make everyone understand the GOLDEN opportunity for Mukanya to be a home owner and retire HONOURABLY.”
Chivayo ended his post by saying that: “I come in PEACE, with the genuine intention to assist and uplift the heroes still living amongst us. There is NO political mileage to be gained from this gesture just as I have done since joining my wonderful church in 2008, I have spent huge amounts of money whole heartedly buying my fellow JOHANNE MASOWE followers houses, cars and paying for their children’s university fees local and overseas amongst other things.”
Speaking to reporters, Mukanya declined the offer, standing his ground that he was against corruption and thievery. In an interview this week, Sam Mataure who is Mukanya’s manager, said he was expecting to meet Chivhayo over the offer.
“I’m waiting to meet with Wicknell and find the way forward because I think it’s a good offer which Mukanya deserves, considering his contribution during the struggle and his contribution in the music industry in this country,” Mataure said.
“There’s no harm in meeting and finding common ground and move forward because I strongly believe Wicknell’s offer is coming from him with love for Mukanya and not for publicity.”
That said, Mukanya’s homecoming has also been affected by fear of the known, an assertion which has since been dismissed by Information Publicity & Broadcasting Services permanent secretary Nick Mangwana.
He said Mukanya has no case to answer and is free to return home and enjoy his retirement!
