Mapfumo moves to USA
Paul A
Paul A
MAPFUMO MOVES TO USA
Michael Kariati
ZIMBABWE’s top musician, Thomas Mapfumo, has left the country for the
United States, amid speculation that he has gone for good in order to
avoid persecution from the government. Investigations by The Standard
have revealed that Mapfumo, his wife Verna, and children,
Tapfumaneyi, Matinyanya and Chiedza, left for the US soon after
Mapfumo’s three luxury cars, BMW dolphins, were impounded by the
police.
According to information at hand, Mapfumo had, before the three BMWs
were impounded, bought an E-class Mercedes Benz in the US. The Benz
was supposed to be shipped to Zimbabwe at the same time the BMWs were
impounded. Following this incident, Mapfumo immediately stopped the
shipment of the car to Zimbabwe, and in fact, went to the States
himself with his family, and has not returned since.
The Standard has it on good authority that Mapfu-mo and his group,
the Blacks Unlimited, have also signed a long term contract to play
in the USA.
According to information at hand, Mapfumo will not be returning home,
and a close relative confided to The Standard that household property
belonging to the Mapfumos has been relocated to a storeroom to make
way for a tenant. At the moment, the Mapfumo’s house is being looked
after by his cousin, known only as Goriati, and his uncle, Sekuru
Jira. Goriati was the cashier wherever Mapfumo played in Zimbabwe.
Even Mapfumo’s business, Strawberry’s Boutique, situated in Samora
Machel Parkade, has also been left in the hands of his wife’s sister,
Netsai.
Mapfumo, whose songs were an inspiration during the liberation
struggle, has of late been highly critical of the government, and his
latest album, Chimurenga Explosion, had some songs temporarily banned
from air play by ZBC. The final straw came in March when Mapfumo gave
an interview to the British newspaper, The Sunday Telegraph,
expressing his dissatisfaction at the manner in which the country was
being run by President Mugabe.
“I am very disappointed. After all our struggle, I never expected our
own black government was going to destroy our country.
“We are in crisis. The economy has almost collapsed and people no
longer trust the government that fought in the liberation struggle.
They are sick and tired. I can’t tour because I can’t get petrol,”
Mapfumo told the Sunday Telegraph.
Coincidentally, it was after the publication of the Telegraph article
that Mapfumo’s three BMWs were impounded, purportedly on the basis
that he had bought stolen vehicles. Mapfumo was last year awarded a
Master of Arts degree by the University of Zimbabwe in recognition of
his immense contribution to the liberation struggle and to society in
general through his inspirational Chimurenga music.