Mtukudzi fights claims he abandoned dead guitarist

Mtukudzi fights claims he abandoned dead guitarist

THE 'ramshackle' van was used to transport Dube's body

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By Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWEAN music legend Oliver Mtukudzi has been forced to publicly defend his reputation after a damaging burst of accusations by family and friends of his former guitarist, Philani Dube, who died last week.

The veteran Zimbabwean singer, in South Africa on business, has been accused of abandoning Dube and failing to come to his aid as he lay in hospital, dying.

Mtukudzi failed to attend the funeral last Wednesday, but provided fuel for a van that ferried Dube's body from Harare to his hometown of Bulawayo for burial. Mtukudzi also provided funds for the coffin.

South Africa's City Press newspaper reported Sunday that residents of Chitungwiza, where the long-serving guitarist died last week, were shocked to see his coffin being loaded into an old ramshackle van, which was to ferry him to his final resting place in Bulawayo, some 500 km away.

"The hearse attracted the attention of scores of residents who came out to watch the grim spectacle in disbelief," City Press reported.

The battered blue van was theonly vehicle that was available to ferry Dube’s coffin, his widow, children and relatives to Bulawayo.

As the coffin was placed in the van and the 12 accompanying passengers squeezed in beside it, the skorokoro slumped so low everybody wondered if it would make even half the trip, the paper reported.

The car had been offered free of charge by Dube’s friend, Dickson Maponga. Mtukudzi’s manager, Sam Mataure, told the family that Tuku Music company did not have a vehicle to ferry the corpse or mourners.

The company could only provide fuel for the trip. But the “hearse” ran out of fuel in the middle of a forest along the Harare-Bulawayo highway around midnight.

The people accompanying the body spent the cold night crammed in the van with the coffin while arrangements were made to have fuel brought from Bulawayo.

But Mtukudzi, who is in South Africa on business, said he was not responsible for the shocking send-off given to Dube.

He says Dube left his band a long time ago but that from time to time when he saw posters advertising a Black Spirits Band show, he would bring his own guitar and join them.

Mtukudzi say he could not chase him away because he had worked with him for many years.

“I bought the coffin and the fuel. If the car ran out of fuel along the way it is not my problem, blame it on the economic situation back in Zimbabwe because fuel shortage is a problem.

“I had no obligation to contribute towards the funeral, but because I am an African, I know that we have to help each other in times like these.

“And then I get blamed like this. As a colleague, you can only do so much. The rest of the work is for the family to decide what they want to do.”

Meanwhile, at New Magwegwe, Bulawayo, mid-morning the following day, relatives and friends had gathered to give their hero a send-off. They were shocked when he arrived in the groaning ramshackle van.

“They expected something worthy of Mtukudzi’s name. They were further angered by the absence of Mtukudzi and the rest of the band,” Elfigio Maponga, a friend, told City Press.

“Philani would have been alive today if he had been given the necessary medication, food and comfort that these people denied him,” fumed Maponga.

Another friend, Paniso Nyilenda, added: “He scrounged for food and could not afford medicines. He had to surrender his cellphone as collateral in order to have a chest X-ray taken, three days before his death.

“He did not have the $300 000 (about R30) that was needed. None of them assisted in any way. No-one visited him.”

Maponga added: “We phoned Mtukudzi last week when Philani was bed-ridden and in severe pain, but he would not assist with money to buy even painkillers.

“Tuku actually told Philani on the phone while I listened that he too was experiencing dire financial problems.”

Mtukudzi said his conscience was clear. “They say I could not even buy him painkillers, but they won’t tell you that I have been buying him ARVs for a long time. When I help a person, I don’t blow my own horn.”

Dube was one of the two remaining original members of The Black Spirits, Mtukudzi’s backing group.

Dube was dropped from the band and replaced by Clive "Mono" Mukundu. Mono himself is no longer with the band after another reshuffle.
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