Taken from his 1979 Survival album, Bob Marley in Africa Unite sang:
How good and how pleasant it would be
Before God and man, yeah
To see the unification of all Africans, yeah
As it’s been said already, let it be done, yeah
We are the children of the RastamanWe are the children of the IyamanSo, Africa unite
‘Cause the children wanna come home (Africa unite), yeah, yeah Africa unite.
Like his contemporaries, if Bob Marley had lived, he would have turned 80 this week (on Thursday, February 6). Grounation, the annual symposium hosted by the Jamaica Music Museum is all set for February’s Reggae Month celebrations and will present a unique opportunity to delve into the life and enduring legacy of the cultural iconoclast, Robert Nesta Marley.
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It would also be a great moment in the history of Zimbabwean music if Thomas Mapfumo, one of Zimbabwe’s iconic musicians of all time came to celebrate his 80th birthday with Zimbabweans. In my opinion, there should be a Chimurenga Week on our calendars in Zimbabwe in honour of this iconic star. However, Zimbabwean music promoters are afraid of inviting him to come and celebrate his 80th birthday in case the authorities interfere with the celebrations. They want assurance from the authorities first that his safety is guaranteed. This would require a commission from the powers that be.
Thomas Mapfumo who was born on the of July 3, 1945, was accused of buying stolen cars in 2000.
Mapfumo alleges that the 2000 accusations of buying stolen BMWs were unfounded and is demanding the return of his five vehicles seized by police in 2000. It is 25 years now since this case was brought about and it caused Mapfumo to flee the country.
I am not a lawyer, but shouldn’t statutes of limitations that set a time limit for when legal action can be taken after an offence is committed come into play? There is no maximum age limit for imprisonment in Zimbabwe’s legislation, but would it not be ridiculous for the country to drag an 80 year-old man to prison for alleged offences, which are said to have been committed 25 years ago when he was aged 55? It is also good news to learn that the death penalty has been abolished in Zimbabwe.
Mapfumo thinks that the whole thing is politically motivated because he sings some anti-establishment songs such as Corruption, Mamvemve, Chimurenga Rebel, Nhamo Zvakare and Zvichapera. He has a lot of followers for his music and that way the establishment allegedly regards him as an opposition party. For that reason, the establishment had to find a reason to arrest him. It is 25 years now since this case of "stolen" BMW vehicles was brought about, but should it still go on?
Mapfumo insists that the individuals who sold him the cars were freely roaming Zimbabwe, making his arrest unjustified.
The veteran musician claims that continued government persecution over this incident led him to flee the country for the United States in 2004.
In 2022, Mapfumo failed to come back to Zimbabwe to bury his brother Lancelot who had succumbed to cancer in USA, where he was living citing his security concerns in Zimbabwe.
However, the government spokesperson, Ndavaningi Nick Mangwana has assured Mapfumo that he has nothing to fear and that if he wants to come, he is free to do so. However, Mapfumo repeatedly stated that he would not stage one of his final performances in Zimbabwe saying he fears arrest if he sets his foot in the country.
Mapfumo says returning to Zimbabwe would endanger his life. He wants assurance from the president himself.
He insisted that the accusations against him were politically motivated.
A statement from Mangwana reads:
“We have had conversations with Thomas Mapfumo’s handlers, including Mukanya himself on the phone.
"He wants to hold his swan song in Zimbabwe, but he is scared that he will be arrested. For what?
Nobody is interested in him. At the culmination of the Second Republic, President ED did not declare a single Zimbabwean a persona non grata.
On the contrary, he asserted every Zimbabwean’s cardinal right to come home .
Mapfumo and many other Zimbabweans did come home without any restrictions. Some continued their activities within and without the country afterwards.
We are a democratic state and we don’t arrest people for free speech that doesn’t break our laws. Mapfumo is a soon-to-be octogenarian, and we wish him well in his remaining years. He has a lot of fans and detractors. That’s life. See you in Zimbabwe, Mukanya.”
Mapfumo, who has been an ardent critic of the Zanu PF government, left the country during former President Robert Mugabe’s years in office.
Mukanya has continued to criticise the incumbent, Emmerson Mnangagwa, for his poor human rights record and maladministration.
When he chose not to come back to Zimbabwe last year, a lot of his fans were disappointed. He could not even come to bury his brother, Lancelot when he died from cancer in 2022 for fear of this persecution.
Enter Wicknell Chivayo:
In an attempt to lure the musician to come back to Zimbabwe, controversial businessman, Wicknell Chivayo who had proposed to give him a car of his choice worth US$200 000 and a house worth US$300 000, on condition he apologised for criticising the Zimbabwe government and come back home. Like the tropical cyclone (or hurricane) that is usually accompanied by rain, thunder, and lightning, with winds of more than 120 kilometres per hour that sometimes move into temperate latitudes, Mapfumo, also known as Hurricane Hugo came out guns blazing, he laughed it off and categorically stated:
"I am not that type who is induced with a dangling toy like a child. You simply have to know my history. I am not a member of any political party. Why can’t you channel that money to hospitals? Our roads are in bad state and the people are living in poverty. Wouldn’t that be better use of your money?”
I am not certain of what went on between Chivayo and Mapfumo, but if Chivayo told him: “Go and see Victor or Madzibaba Chipanga,” Mapfumo certainly laughed it off.
I spoke to Mapfumo last Tuesday and asked him to come and perform in Zimbabwe on his 80th birthday. That would be a big thing, I said. He showed interest in coming depending on which promoter engages him. The way people born before 1980 relate to Mapfumo is the same way today’s youngsters born after 1980 relate to the likes of Silent Killer. His response was: “Ïf the government means what it says they should start off by returning my cars.” Mapfumo insisted that the individuals who sold him the cars were freely roaming Zimbabwe, making his arrest unjustified. "No one in government knows where these cars are, but they took them away from me. I therefore hold the government responsible for their disappearance.
“When I left Zimbabwe, my associate, Cuthbert Chirombo, was called to take the cars because no one had come forward to claim ownership.
"Chirombo went to see the cars and arranged to pick them up a week later.
"Unfortunately, when he returned the following week, the cars were missing.”.
Mapfumo added that the case was being handled by his lawyer a Warara, and that he is determined to reclaim his cars.
“I never stole cars, and no one was ever charged,” he said.
"I want my cars back, and the case is with my lawyers. When such case is resolved, I will come and perform in Zimbabwe as there will be no charges against me for stolen cars any more.
“My lawyer, Warara, said they want me to return to Zimbabwe and present my case.” “Why should I come in person if my lawyer who has all the facts can represent me? This is the tricky bit.”
As far as I am concerned, if such charges still stand, it’s like building a mountain out of a molehill. The question still stands: Will Mapfumo who is currently domiciled in Oregon, USA ever come back to Zimbabwe?
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