Zimbabweans remain sharply divided after Chimurenga music legend Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo accepted a US$1.5 million deal to perform at polarising businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s birthday celebration and Jah Prayzah’s rumoured wedding, with supporters calling it a deserved retirement package while critics argue it damages the veteran musician’s long-held reputation.
By Advent Shoko
Mapfumo recently confirmed he would travel to Zimbabwe for the performances, insisting his decision should not be viewed through a political lens.
“Tiri kuuya kuZimbabwe… We are coming to Zimbabwe to perform at Jah Prayzah’s wedding and Wicknell’s birthday… Ibasa iri. It’s work, nothing else,” Mapfumo said.
The announcement has triggered one of Zimbabwe’s most heated online debates, drawing reactions from lawyers, politicians, activists, academics and ordinary citizens.
‘Mukanya Has Stumbled’ – Brighton Mutebuka
UK-based Zimbabwean lawyer Brighton Mutebuka described Mapfumo’s decision as a painful moment for many Zimbabweans who admired the musician’s decades-long principled stand.
According to Mutebuka, the issue is not the money itself but what he believes Mapfumo represented.
“The great, iconic figure of Mukanya has stumbled and made a monumental error of judgment,” Mutebuka wrote.
He argued that Mapfumo had built a reputation as an incorruptible figure who consistently criticised patronage politics, making his acceptance of Chivayo’s offer particularly disappointing to many supporters.
However, Mutebuka stopped short of calling for the musician to be “cancelled.”
“I do not consider cancelling him to be a just and proportionate response. I attach a lot of weight to his immense contribution and principled stand against tyranny and rampant corruption over many decades.”
Coltart Questions Source of Wealth
Former Cabinet minister and lawyer David Coltart shifted attention from Mapfumo to Chivayo’s growing list of public donations.
Coltart said he hoped the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) would ensure the businessman had paid the necessary taxes on income used to fund the gifts.
“All that one can hope for is that ZIMRA is watching this carefully to make sure these public donations mirror Chivayo’s and his companies’ tax returns.”
He also questioned the wider implications of such high-profile gifts.
“The moral fabric of our nation is being torn to shreds one Toyota Land Cruiser, one ‘gift’ at a time. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Every gift isn’t about charity or benevolence—each one has a political motive.”
‘Allow Him To Retire With Dignity’
Others defended Mapfumo’s decision, arguing that the 80-year-old musician deserves the opportunity to earn from his life’s work.
One social media user responded to Coltart by asking what practical assistance critics had offered the veteran musician when his home was destroyed by fire.
“VaMapfumo has chosen a dignified way back to recovery and that is work. There’s also no glory in martyrdom. Allow him to work for an opportunity to retire with dignity.”
Another supporter argued that internationally renowned musicians have long accepted lucrative private performances.
“American artists have been paid millions for one-hour gigs at dictators’ tables. Regai Mapfumo apuhwe mari yedu. I can guarantee you that it will not corrupt him.”
‘It’s Patronage, Not Charity’
Journalist Freeman Chari viewed the deal differently, suggesting it reflects a broader political strategy.
“They destroy your livelihood then come back to you with a bottle of water in their man-made desert. Mapfumo could be worth millions from his own music but they destroyed him.”
Political commentator Mlungisi Dube argued that political patronage has become more effective than repression.
“If the generosity is sincere, start with a living wage for civil servants.”
Meanwhile, civic group Team Pachedu questioned whether the payments could truly be regarded as ordinary commercial transactions.
“It’s not a job if the money is coming from state resources at the disadvantage of millions of Zimbabweans.”
‘Musicians Shouldn’t Be Judged By Their Clients’
Others rejected attempts to politicise the performances.
Several commentators drew comparisons with lawyers, doctors and other professionals who provide services regardless of a client’s political affiliation.
One commenter argued:
“He is not a political activist. He is a musician hired to perform and get paid, just like opposition lawyers who represent ZANU PF members in court.”
Another added:
“Opposition leaders who are lawyers represent some people in the government they oppose in court. Mukanya is paid to perform. Where is the difference?”
Supporters also noted that Mapfumo is approaching retirement and questioned why he should be expected to continue making financial sacrifices while others earn comfortable incomes.
Mahere’s Brief Reaction
Lawyer and politician Fadzayi Mahere offered a short but pointed response.
“Kuita kukanda Mapfumo pasi,” she wrote, loosely translating it as “throwing in the towel” or “giving up.”
She added:
“We need new leaders.”
Why The Debate Matters
Mapfumo’s acceptance of the record-breaking deal has become more than an entertainment story. It has evolved into a wider conversation about political patronage, artistic independence, loyalty, financial survival and whether public figures should be judged by the people who pay for their services.
For some Zimbabweans, Mukanya has tarnished a reputation built over decades of principled resistance.
For others, the performances represent nothing more than a music legend accepting paid work before retirement after a lifetime of entertaining and inspiring the nation.
What remains beyond dispute is that few entertainment stories in recent years have generated as much public debate as Mapfumo’s decision to accept Chivayo’s multimillion-dollar offer.
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