New Zimbabwe.com victory as Mtukudzi apologises

New Zimbabwe.com victory as Mtukudzi apologises

MTUKUDZI

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• Mtukudzi: 'I am not a Zanu PF supporter'

• YOUR SHOUTS (Part 2): Outrage as Tuku backs Mugabe

• YOUR SHOUTS (Part 1): Outrage as Tuku backs Mugabe

• The bungling lunatic from Dande

• Oliver Mtukudzi sings for Zanu PF

• Decibel: the early years

• Mtukudzi to launch new album on UK tour

• Mtukudzi, Ringo wind-up UK tour

• Mtukudzi, Ringo expected for UK concerts

• Mtukudzi records movie soundtrack in NZ

• Mtukudzi, Chaka Chaka conquer Namibia

• Ishmael out of tune with UK fans

• Mataz jets in for Tuku, Ishmael UK tour

• Tuku takes his subtle, discreet protest music to UK audiences

• Zimbabwe keeps protest music muffled

• Tuku brings Somerville crowd to its feet

By Shepherd Sibanda
Showbiz Editor

HUNDREDS of New Zimbabwe.com readers were celebrating victory last night after a volley of protests at Oliver Mtukudzi's performance at a Zanu PF rally produced a thinly-veiled apology from the superstar.

Mtukudzi, Zimbabwe's biggest selling artist with 49 albums to his credit, invited the ire of his fans when he sang at a Zanu PF rally which he had been told was a "private gathering" to celebrate Joyce Mujuru's appointment as Vice President.

Mtukudzi hails from the same rural area as Mujuru, and considers her a relative.

Hundreds of New Zimbabwe.com readers condemned the singer, and urged UK fans to boycott his weekend shows in London, Milton Keynes and Bradford.

First to respond to your protests were the UK tour promoters ZimTownship, who initially put out a statement condemning New Zimbabwe.com as a "cancer cell pulling down Zimbabwe's heroes".

The statement was later withdrawn, followed by a mild diatribe directed at our editorial comment in which we described Mtukudzi's presence at the rally as a betrayal to his fans.

By noon on Tuesday, it had become clear to Mtukudzi's management that nothing short of a clarification about the singer's political intentions would save his weekend tour, and Mtukudzi was asked by his management to issue a statement.

The result was a blunt statement by the singer in which he reveals for the first time that he is NOT a Zanu PF supporter. He also condemns the use of his song Totutuma on a Zanu PF campaign advert as "cynical manipulation".

He said: "I wish to place on record and make absolutely clear that I am not a ZANU PF supporter. I am a loyal Zimbabwean who believes in a true and tolerant democracy."

Mtukudzi also rounded on the government's "gross abuse of human rights" and said his music should be used as "a rallying point for those who believe in a true and tolerant democracy".

"People who do not promote government’s image are often seen as being enemies of the government and attempts are made to silence them or undermine their careers," Mtukudzi blasted.

"This is a gross abuse of human rights, so many of which have been violated in order to secure government’s grasp on power. Most distressing is that the government has denied numerous Zimbabweans in the Diaspora their democratic right to vote."

Mtukudzi fell short of accusing the organisers of Mujuru's bash of misinforming him. He said he was asked to sing a few solo songs, and because he knew Mujuru, he agreed.

Said Mtukudzi: "What I understood would be a private gathering of relatives was turned into a Zanu PF event, and, without warning or permission, filmed and broadcast. It is like an American Democratic Party supporter being asked to sing happy birthday to his Republican brother and suddenly finding the event being used in a Republican Party campaign ad.

"I believe that this is a deliberate strategy to undermine my popularity as a singer.....However, I hope that my fans are, by now, wise to such cynical manipulation, which so seriously undermines our collective belief in a better Zimbabwe."

Mtukudzi is expected in the UK on Thursday.

In a personal address to his fans, he said: "In return for my fans’ loyalty, the band and I hope to put on unforgettable shows in our impending UK tour."
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shapiro@newzimbabwe.com