MUKANYA BIDS FAREWELL TO CHIVHAYO AND LULU, HEADS BACK TO US
Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo is returning to the US after paying condolences to the Chivayo family. His departure before the burial raises questions, including whether he was disappointed that he never got to meet Wicknell before his death.
Chimurenga music legend Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo is heading back to his base in the United States after returning to Zimbabwe to pay his respects to the late businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteke.
Mapfumo arrived at the Chivayo family home in Gletwyn on Sunday, accompanied by music promoter Josh Hozheri, where he met members of the bereaved family and paid his condolences.
His departure raises an obvious question: Why leave before Chivayo and Lulu are buried on Thursday?
The answer appears to be less dramatic than some may assume.
Mapfumo had only returned to Zimbabwe because of engagements arranged before Chivayo's death. He had been contracted for two high-profile performances — at Jah Prayzah's wedding and Chivayo's birthday celebrations — in a deal reportedly worth US$1 million. The wedding was postponed following the tragedy, while Chivayo's birthday celebrations will no longer take place.
Mapfumo subsequently indicated that he would return to the United States and come back to Zimbabwe when the postponed wedding is rescheduled. He has now also said he will return in December for a farewell concert.
DID MUKANYA FEEL DISAPPOINTED THAT HE NEVER MET CHIVAYO?
There is an emotional question beneath Mapfumo's brief visit: Did the veteran musician feel disappointed that he never got the opportunity to meet Chivayo before the businessman died?
Mapfumo himself has addressed the issue.
Speaking after visiting the Chivayo family, he acknowledged that he had failed to meet Wicknell, but did not express bitterness or accuse the businessman of neglecting him.
Instead, Mapfumo said Chivayo had done his best and had shown his “loving heart”.
That is significant because the circumstances had been unusual.
Mapfumo had travelled from his US base specifically for engagements arranged by Chivayo. Chivayo had reportedly paid him in full for the performances, even though the tragedy meant the planned events could not proceed as scheduled. Mapfumo confirmed that he had received his performance fees and said he would honour the contractual commitment when a new date was arranged.
So there is no evidence that Mapfumo left Zimbabwe angry or disappointed with Chivayo.
If anything, his comments suggest that he understood that the opportunity to meet had simply been overtaken by an event nobody expected.
WHY NOT WAIT FOR THE BURIAL?
The burial of Chivayo and Lulu is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, at Glen Forest Cemetery, meaning Mapfumo will have left Zimbabwe before the couple's final burial. The family has said the burial date was set partly to allow relatives travelling from different countries to arrive.
Mapfumo's decision to leave before Thursday therefore should not automatically be interpreted as a sign of disrespect or dissatisfaction.
He had already visited the family, paid his condolences and publicly mourned Chivayo and the other crash victims.
His own words were perhaps the clearest indication of his state of mind.
“Although I failed to meet Wicknell, to me he did his best, he expressed his loving heart,” Mapfumo said.
For a musician who had travelled thousands of kilometres from the United States for engagements that were ultimately overtaken by tragedy, the missed meeting is undoubtedly part of the story.
But based on Mapfumo's own account, it appears to be remembered not as a personal grievance, but as a meeting that simply never happened.
Mapfumo will now return to the United States, with another Zimbabwe visit expected in December — this time for a farewell concert.
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