Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo has come out guns blazing against
his “enemies” whom he says are behind rumours surrounding his prolonged stay in
Zimbabwe.
Mapfumo,who came back home from his United States base in
December for nationwide shows, opened his heart out to Standard Style in an
exclusive interview yesterday following talk that he was now staying with a
certain Harare woman.
Leaked WhatsApp chats of some of the superstar’s relatives
suggested that they were not happy about his decision not to return to Oregon
soon after his shows.
“I am not staying with a girlfriend,” he said. “I am
actually sleeping alone, but there are some people whom I used to work with
like Blessing Vava, my former publicist, who is staying in South Africa, who
are trying to soil my image by spreading rumours,” Mapfumo said.
He said the 28-year-old woman (named) he is allegedly
having an affair with could be a fan, just like many women that he interacts
with because of his music.
“I have a lot of female friends not only in Zimbabwe, but
also in England and the United Kingdom who call me, some we have photos with,
but this does not mean they are my girlfriends,” he said.
“I am a principled man who values his family. I am not into
prostitution and I don’t have a girlfriend, but people are bitter and want to
soil my image.”
Mapfumo said allegations that he was stranded in Zimbabwe
after his shows failed to generate enough money were also false and malicious.
The musician, who rose to fame during Zimbabwe’s struggle
for independence, said one of the reasons he had not yet returned to the US was
because he was working on the construction of a culture centre in Domboshava.
“I have a lot of projects that include the building of the
culture centre in Domboshava that I have to push into shape and I have to put a
structure in Glen Lorne. As soon as that happens, I am free to leave as there
are people who will be overseeing the projects,” he said.
“These are some of the reasons why I am still around. “How can someone be stuck in his own country, stuck to go
to America when Zimbabwe is my home?
“I was not born in America, Zimbabwe is my home, so no one
should pressurise me to go back to America.”
Mapfumo said the other reason he could not leave
immediately after his Peace Tour was that the promoter was refusing to pay him
and his band.
“On moral grounds, how do I leave when these youngsters did
not get their dues from Max Mugaba?” he charged.
“He is dodging us, that is why I decided to hold some shows
so that I could pay the band I used on the Peace Tours.
“Now that I have cleared their dues, I am free to leave,
but if there are other things that might come before Friday, I might still be
in the country, as no one should pressurise me to go back to America.”
After holding the Peace Tours in December amid hiccups and
glitches, Mapfumo went public in early January, accusing music promoter Mugaba
and former spokesperson Vava of fleecing him
The two have, however, denied the allegations, insisting
the shows did not bring any profits.
As the fallout ensued, Mapfumo’s key band members, lead
guitarist Gilbert Zvamaida and percussionist Lancelot Mapfumo, who is a younger
brother to the veteran musician, left for their United States base. Standard
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