TOCKY Vibes has rubbished claims by an old man from
Glendale in Mashonaland Central, that he is his father.
Born John Vashico, the self-confessed HIV positive grandpa,
has become the talk of the farming community of Glendale and surrounding farms
for his miserable lifestyle amidst claims that he is Tocky’s father.
Known for hopping from place to place begging for left overs
in homes, funerals and even public places, Vashico is in serious need of help –
even psychological help if Tocky’s story is anything to go by.
H-Metro took time to sit down with the old man to hear the
story that he has preached as gospel truth to the whole of Glendale.
He claimed to have fathered 10 other children beside Tocky
and also confessed to neglecting them.
In an interview with H-Metro at his compound at
Fox Farm, which is on the verge of decimation following the expansion of Eastview
suburb encroaching the compound area, Vashico said misery was now his middle
name.
“I have been living in poverty for the greater part of my
life despite being blessed with 11 biological children who are living large.
“Some are in Harare, Mazowe and Chitungwiza but they are no
longer catering for me. I know I neglected them at some point but I’m really
sorry for what happened,” he said.
Asked how he was surviving, the frail-looking Vashico said:
“I move around collecting left overs at funerals, homes and public places like
bars and even at the bus terminus in bins.
“I sell some of the left over like sadza to those breeding
pigs for ZWL$10 for a bucket.
“If I get nice stuff from the left overs, I also eat some
of them for survival.
“I have been leading this life for a while and when I heard that you were coming here, I
said ‘the Lord has heard my prayers’ but to be honest, it’s not easy for an old
man with 11 children and of course several grandchildren to be leading such a
shameful life.”
Asked why he neglected his children, he blamed it on their
cultural beliefs which give mothers full control of children.
“Originally, I am from Malawi and full responsibility of
children used to be given to mothers. We were only there to give them children
and provide here and there but things have changed now.
“During our time when we were very religious, we used to
take some of the beliefs seriously but it’s no longer the same as compared to
the old days when culture was still culture,” he said.
He, however, said he was ready to make up with his children
and lead a normal life since he was reduced to a pauper.
Vashico said his marital woes started when he lost his
first wife Rosemary Toro, which saw him resorting to alcohol abuse to ease
stress.
“I broke up with my first wife Rosemary Toro years back. I
went on to marry other women like Lenia Mwale and now I am staying with another
woman called Junior Miti.
“We don’t have children with the current woman I stay with
since she can’t give birth. In other words we are just staying together and we
don’t have children.
“It’s unfortunate she could not be here when you came and
she has gone to the shops.As for my broken family, I am just begging for
forgiveness.”
The self-confessed HIV positive man suspects his condition
could be worsening as he is developing a lump close to his manhood.
“I have been taking my ARVs religiously and I make sure
that when they are running out, I go and queue for them with others at the
local clinic.
“As you know, people on ARVs require nutritious diet and I
do appeal to people to help us if they can.
“Today I am happy because I managed to but a 5kg of mealie
meal from menial jobs but it is never enough to sustain me.
“I would be happy if I can get a proper diet and I think
one of my children will be able to buy me something delicious after reading
this stories.”
On his alleged feud with Tocky Vibes, Vashico said it was
expected of the chanter to hate him but he now wants peace. He seemed convinced
that the Zimdancehall star is his flesh and blood despite Tocky having proof
that his real father is a truck driver in South Africa and that his mother is
none of the women mentioned by the Glendale man.
“I know Tocky is bound to dislike me because I never stayed
with him.I would be lying to say I stayed with him but he is my son and I have
nothing to prove or hide.
“I hear he is doing well in Harare and I will be happy if
he could come here and forgive me. In my case, I have forgiven him already and
he should also do the same.
“I once attended Tocky Vibes’ show when he came to perform
in Bindura along with Freeman but I was shut out.
“When I went to his parked car, there were these beautiful
fat women there who blocked me. I then proceeded to the venue but I was blocked
when I was about to see him.
“I was close by the stage but the security blocked me and I
came back home empty-handed.”
Despite the embarrassment, Vashico says he is an avid
follower of Tocky’s music.
“I always play his music here using homemade banjos which I
keep at home. I was once a musician in my right and I can sing well.
“I wish him the best wherever he is and I hope I could meet
him one day,” he said.
Despite wallowing in poverty, Vashico has some life skills
which can take him places if well managed.
“To be honest with you, I am a farmer and traditional
healer.
“I can heal cancer and other ailments at the compound but
my patients underpay me. I can heal STIs, back pains and even cancer like I
said before if people adhere to what I tell them.
“The only problem is that some of the patients don’t want
to pay while others don’t return afterwards.
“Unlike most sangoma who can punish his defaulting
patients, I prefer forgiving them because I know very well that one day or the
other they will come back,” he said.
On a parting shot, Vashico said all he wanted at the moment
was support. “As you can see, I am a sick man and I need basics like cooking
oil, mealie-meal, beans among other foodstuff for HIV patients like us.
“My only fear at the moment is that I might die without
uniting my family. To my kids, they must also know that I still remains their
father despite our differences,” he added.
But it is his claim to be Tocky Vibe’s father that has made
him popular in Glendale.
All the facts – albeit minus a DNA test – points to this
old man’s claims being a big fat lie but he has stuck to his story. H Metro
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