He was supposed to have retired from music five years ago, but surprisingly, he is still making the news headlines today.
Like the tropical cyclone (or hurricane) that is usually accompanied by rain, thunder, and lightning, with winds of more than 120 kilometres per hour that sometimes move into temperate latitudes, Thomas ‘Mukanya’ Mapfumo, also known as Hurricane Hugo has come out with guns blazing.
In a recent interview with Lance Guma of Nehanda TV about the offer made to him by Sir Wicknell Chivayo who had proposed to give him a car of his choice worth US$200 000 and a house worth US$300 000, on condition he apologised for criticising the Zimbabwe government and come back home, Mapfumo laughed it off and categorically stated:, "I am not that type who is induced with a dangling toy like a child. You simply have to know my history. I am not a member of any political party. Why can’t you channel that money to hospitals? Our roads are in bad state and the people are living in poverty. Wouldn’t that be better use of your money?”
Many a musician would have found that offer tempting. As we already know, the list of musicians who have already accepted the offer of cars includes Jah Prayzah, Alick Macheso, Diana Samkange, Andy Muridzo, Sulumani Chimbetu, Sandra Ndebele, D.J. Fantan, Ba Troy, Seh Calaz, Ricky Fire, Nicholas Zakaria and many more.
The enigmatic Thomas Hurricane Hugo Tafirenyika Mukanya Mapfumo, a revered artist, internationally acclaimed musician, and human rights advocate who fearlessly shared stories that challenged the established order, earning the ire of the powers that be, was recently responding to the offer made by Sir Wicknell Chivayo when he rejected his offer.
Chivayo said that Mukanya had fallen on hard times, a situation that could be easily remedied if he apologised to the ruling Zanu PF party. However, Mukanya was not moved.
If you honestly thought that the living legend who has been instrumental in churning out songs like Hokoyo, Nyoka Musango, Pamuromo Chete, Nhamo Ya Makandiwa Ndakaiona, VaChitepo Varikupi Vatitungamirire, and Corruption would succumb to the temptation of a motor vehicle and a house, assets which he already possesses, you have another think coming.
I have known Mukanya since 1980, and he has been consistent in his thinking and song-writing prowess throughout. Even before independence, he was imprisoned without trial for six months by the Ian Smith regime at Chikurubi Maximum Prison for singing protest songs.
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It is the same Thomas Mapfumo who sang Zanu PF into power during the liberation struggle and into independence in 1980. He is the same Mukanya who called out Robert Mugabe’s government for corruption after independence and also sang the songs: Corruption, Mamvemve and Disaster thereafter.
If you thought that the same man who was critical of the Zimbabwean regime through his songs over so many years and had his music banned on the national radio would change his mind and start praising it, because you have offered him a house and a car, you are naïve, to say the least. His message to Zimbabweans has been consistent for the past fifty years. He has been principled and beyond reproach all this time. Mapfumo is not greedy. Indeed, to think that he would be lured by dangling a house and a car can only be done by someone who does not know him. He has had several cars and houses in his lifetime which he got through his sweat and hard work to be tempted by such an offer.
There has been a mixed bag of reactions regarding this whole episode. Here are some:
Changamire Dombo:
“Wicknell is a patron of the arts and, therefore chooses, to donate to artistes. Nothing wrong with that. You do not tell him where to donate his money. Go make your own money and then donate to whatever cause of your choosing — soccer or healthcare or education.
Even in the West there are wealthy people who are also patrons of the arts channelling millions or billions to the arts when there are poor and homeless people in the West.
As an undergraduate student in the West, I always struggled financially and had to take on odd jobs to help pay for tuition and other living expenses. Yet, there were billionaires donating fancy new glass buildings to my university or financing some of my school’s useless chair endowments — instead of donating towards student’s tuition as students were the most financially vulnerable. Should I be mad that these tycoons should have paid my tuition instead of donating a statue to the university? No, it is their money.”
Hillary Godfrey:
Why not use the money to help fight Cholera?
John Garande :
“Wicknell’s money has legal ramifications: A warning to musicians: Accepting funds without a clear understanding of their origin can implicate you in criminal activity, regardless of whether you were aware of the funds’ illicit nature. Many jurisdictions have strict proceeds of crime laws that hold recipients accountable for knowingly or unknowingly benefiting from criminal proceeds. Ignorance is no defence. I would not accept such an offer which I know will be short-lived. This often involves money laundering schemes designed to conceal the illicit source of funds. By accepting such funds, you could inadvertently become a party to money laundering, subjecting yourself to severe penalties, including imprisonment and hefty fines. No thanks.”
Tawona Shadaya Knight:
“If we can have the mindset towards contributing a luxury item for an individual, surely we can also contribute towards vulnerable members of society e.g orphans, the elderly, the disabled and young girls in rural areas with no access to sanitary pads. We have bigger problems, cholera, an impending drought, drug addiction in our communities. Let us channel our energy and funds towards such things. Let us look beyond the individual and let us be more about the group. Learn or perish!”
Jah Tawonga:
“If Chivayo was a genuinely kind and sincere person, he would give musician, Tongai Gwaze aka Greatman, who is disabled and in a wheelchair, a car and a house and this would be a just cause. I think Wicknell is just a frontman for someone big and is on an ego-trip.
Olinda Chapel:
“You have spent Zanu PF money. Zanu PF is your sugar daddy. I am self-made,. self-financed, self- made millionaire and handizi ma slay queen avajaira kutengera magaro. Tsek! PS tirikuda magetsi edu!!” she wrote.
Sonja Madzikanda (Sir Wicknell Chivayo’s wife):
“I want to come here and say clearly that you guys just need to let Wicknell be and like back off him a little bit. He’s a single guy. He has been a single guy for a while. Myself and Wicknell are no longer together and we have not been together for a while.”
Nelson Chamisa:
Chamisa urged his followers to turn to a higher power, dismissing Chivayo’s gesture as mere folly. His words were poignant: “GO AND SEE VICTOR…Jesus Christ is the true VICTOR. Seek Christ. Him Alone should be exalted. Depend on Him. Depend upon the true VICTOR. He conquered the world. Christ’s victory is over sin and death. There is folly of dependence upon man. Men are feeble and fickle. Only Christ is an all-sufficient and eternal refuge-The true Victor! Isaiah 1:11, 22, Heb. 2:14, 1 John 3:8). Blessed Sabbath.#SabbathGrace #Godisinit”
Chamisa’s call for spiritual reflection subtly highlights the ongoing tension between ostentatious displays of wealth exhibited by the likes of Chivayo and the realities faced by many Zimbabweans, grappling with economic hardship and social inequality.
Mpilo Moyo, a Facebook blogger sums it all up this way:
“Thomas Mapfumo, if you bow to me and denounce your convictions,” Lucifer whispered, his voice dripping with temptation, “I will give you all these things—the grand house, the luxurious cars, and everything your heart desires.”
Thomas hesitated, his eyes glinting with greed as he surveyed the lavish offerings before him. The allure of wealth and power beckoned, promising a life of opulence beyond his wildest dreams.
But then, a voice of reason echoed in his mind, reminding him of his principles and the values that defined him. Straightening his back, Thomas looked Lucifer in the eye and declared, “Get away from me, Lucifer. There are many deserving people in Zimbabwe, and I refuse to betray them for my own gain. I am capable of achieving success through hard work and integrity, without succumbing to your empty promises.”
With those words, Thomas turned his back on the tempter, choosing the path of righteousness and self-reliance. As he walked away, a sense of pride and determination filled his heart, knowing that true wealth comes not from material possessions, but from staying true to oneself and standing firm in the face of temptation.
Indeed, Mapfumo , in his twilight years, with lots of experience behind him, unlike his fellow contemporaries, is principled and beyond reproach.
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