Mapfumo lashes 'two-faced' Mtukudzi

Mapfumo lashes 'two-faced' Mtukudzi

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By Staff Reporter

THOMAS Mapfumo launched a stinging attack on Oliver Mtukudzi this week, calling him two faced and accusing him of pandering to the whims of his manager.

Mapfumo says Mtukudzi has let down his country by refusing to make any political statements condemning the dictatorship of President Robert Mugabe.

The unprecedented attack is the latest in a long running feud between two of Zimbabwe's biggest artists who refuse to play on the same stage to this day.

"He is two-faced. You understand what I am trying to say? He doesn't come out in the open and say where he stands," Mapfumo blasted in an interview with Zimbabwe's independent radio station, SW Radio Africa.

"The last time I heard he made a statement that Mugabe won those elections and yet he rigged those elections. He should come out in the open and identify himself with the people."

Mapfumo's stinging attack came as the two singers gave separate interviews following the death of Simon Chimbetu on Sunday this week.

Mapfumo said unlike Mtukudzi, Chimbetu was open about his support for Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu PF party, condemned by many as a dictatorship. Recently, Mapfumo called for a coup to remove Mugabe from power, repeated in the interview with SW Radio Africa.

"He is working with this manager of his, Debbie (Metcalfe). Debbie is white and she wants to live in Zimbabwe and maybe she is the one who is influencing him to be two-faced. That is not good. If you are a freedom fighter, you stand for what you stand for. You are not afraid whether you die today or tomorrow.. Everybody dies, if its not your day, you won't die."

In his interview with the station, Mtukudzi who is currently in the UK on a private visit limited his answers to Chimbetu's death, and refused to discuss his political beliefs.

Mtukudzi was recently sucked into a storm when he gave a performance at Vice President Joyce Mujuru's bash. He had to apologise, insisting he was only doing it for his "home girl".

The latest assault on Mtukudzi's credibility by Mapfumo will be seen by many as scuppering every promoter's dream -- a joint show by the country's two leading artistes.

Mapfumo, who now lives in self-imposed exile in the United States, arrives in the UK next week for three shows in London, Leicester and Bradford from 26-28 August. Mapfumo's UK tour has suffered a major setback before it begins, after two of the advertised venues -- Empire Nightclub in Milton Keynes and the Town and Country Club in Bradford -- were shut down due to financial difficulties. The organisers have been forced to seek alternative venues. READ FULL INTERVIEW FOR BOTH MTUKUDZI AND MAPFUMO

Watch Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited live in the UK on 26 August at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London, 27 August at Athena in Leicester, and Ventnor Hall in Bradford on 28 August. For more details call 07904796117
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