Tongai Moyo and band denied UK visas

Tongai Moyo and band denied UK visas

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By Sandra Mandizvidza
Posted to the web: 23/12/2008 02:08:16
PLANS by popular sungura musician Tongai Moyo and the gospel duo of Charles Charamba and his wife to perform in the United Kingdom during the festive season have been shattered after they were denied visas.

Moyo, who is under the spotlight with his politically-charged song Kukanda Nekuvhika, said he was told he could not travel to the UK at the last minute.

He had been scheduled to tour with his nine-member band last weekend.

“We were supposed to go to the UK this weekend,” Moyo said. “But we were denied visas on the basis that we might not come back to Zimbabwe.”

He said part of the letter from the British embassy rejecting their visa applications reads: “I note that your application coincides with the most severe economic collapse in Zimbabwean history.

“Income and services are being devalued at an alarming rate with hyperinflation at 231 million percent as of July 2008, unemployment at 82%, education, health and social sectors are crumbling with the rest of the country’s infrastructure.”

The letter quoted reports of an exodus of professionals and other people from Zimbabwe to the UK because of poor remuneration.

“On this basis we feel your group might not come back to Zimbabwe," the letter said.

Moyo said the letter also mentioned that some of his band members did not have property and investments in the country which might motivate them to return home.

“I am so hurt,” Moyo said. “This is all political... it’s not like it will be my first time to go to the UK. I have been there before in 2003, 2005 and 2007. This was going to be my fourth time there.

“This has disrupted the whole programme I had since I also wanted to go to South Africa after the UK tour.”

Moyo will now be spending the festive season performing in the country.

On Christmas Day he will stage a show in Beitbridge and on December 30 he will perform at the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe finals in Harare.

Meanwhile, after failing to secure visas for their UK Christmas tour, gospel musician Charles Charamba and his wife will now go to Mozambique for shows.

“We failed to go to UK because we were told at the British embassy that our applications for visas were late,” said Charamba. “Work permits from our promoters in UK came late. That’s why we could not make it on time.”

The Charambas were supposed to have travelled to the UK for live shows last week. - Standard
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