Comedian-cum-musician, Freddie Manjalima, popularly known as Kapfupi, is embroiled in a messy row over the custody of children with ex-wife Margaret Gejo, The Standard Style can exclusively reveal.
By Problem Masau According to Gejo’s relatives, Kapfupi took custody of the children without their mother’s consent, resulting in the “tug of war” between the two.
“Kapfupi impregnated Margaret when she was just a young girl of school-going age. He did not even pay the bride price. Margaret did not finish her studies,” said the source.
“Kapfupi was launching his career as a comedian then. He stayed with Margaret and they sired three children. However, their marriage broke down and the mother took the children with her.
“The comedian took the children without the mother’s consent when he heard that the mother had been married again.” Gejo’s family is not happy because Kapfupi “kidnapped” the children before paying chiredzwa (compensation to the in-laws).
“He dumped Margaret because of ‘Mai Nga’ [Precious Kabrito]. Margaret was there for him when he was a nobody in society,” added the source.
Kapfupi’s brother, who doubles up as his manager, Steven Manjalima confirmed that the Mai Nga singer was staying with the children.
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“We do not want to expose our dirty linen to the public. That woman you are talking about is in her third marriage. Kapfupi took the children because he wanted them to go to school. The eldest is in Grade 7. Their mother has no capacity to send them to school. She is staying with another man,” he said.
“If you publish the story she is going to be in trouble.”
He said Kapfupi’s camp was not bothered and they were marketing the singer’s new album called Toothbrush.
“We do not care what they think. I am currently in Mberengwa staging shows and marketing the new album,” he added.
Kapfupi met Gejo at the turn of the millennium. According to his own description, the comedian was “nothing”.
He made Harare’s First Street his second home. Dressed in rags, he would spend most of the day entertaining people.
Kapfupi is one of the people who revolutionarised street theatre. Who can afford to forget this line “Ndadaira ayini Mai Bhoyi?” [I “answered” a hot iron instead of the phone].
During those days, he virtually lived off from the well-wishers’ pockets. Those who were impressed by his act would give him a few dollars out of benevolence.
However, the musician divorced the first wife when things were starting to shape up, opting for Kabrito.
At his peak, he started to satiate his penchant for wheels with a modest Nissan Pulsar and dumped it for a Mazda 323, before making a giant leap to the BMW.
As if it was not enough, Kapfupi opened a bar in Epworth in 2011.
He even had bodyguards on his payroll.
However, he hit rock bottom, failing to pay band members, closing the bar and resorting to performing in rural areas.
“When everything was rosy, his children were suffering in Mutoko. Now he is a shadow of himself, he wants to play a good dad,” said Margaret’s relative.
Born 38 years ago in Ruwa, Kapfupi attended Raymondale Primary School, where his passion for acting started in Grade 4.
This was to continue in high school at Domboramwari Secondary School in Epworth, where he unfortunately dropped out in Form 2. He had to take up menial jobs that included acting and sewing to make ends meet.
In 1998, he teamed up with Jeffrey “Aphiri” Chikwesere to form True Vision Drama Club.
The two later went separate ways when Kapfupi added live music to his act, leading to the formation of the band Orchestra Ndoozvo.
