By a Correspondent
Chimurenga music legend Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo has broken his silence over the backlash sparked by his decision to accept a gift from businessman Wicknell Chivhayo, insisting that the gesture does not signal a betrayal of the principles that have defined his career for decades.
In a lengthy statement released on Wednesday, the United States-based musician said he had received numerous messages from disappointed fans, while social media users had accused him of hypocrisy and abandoning the people he has long championed through his music.
“I have noticed that most Chimurenga music fans are unhappy with my decision to accept the gift,” Mapfumo said.
“I have also seen the mocking cartoons that portray me as a hypocrite or a selfish and greedy man who accepts a doughnut to desert a starving family behind.”
The veteran musician rejected claims that accepting Chivhayo’s gift amounted to endorsing any political agenda or abandoning his long-standing activism.
“First, I am, and will always remain, a human rights activist. Accepting a gift from a fan does not mean that I have abandoned my cause or betrayed my people or my music,” he said.
“My beliefs remain unchanged, and my conscience is clear.”
Mapfumo stressed that he had not “crossed the floor” politically, arguing that he has never been a politician but an activist who uses music as a platform to challenge injustice.
“While I am an activist, I am not an opposition politician,” he said.
“Much of the recent criticism on social media seems to imply that I have abandoned a political role that I was never elected or appointed to perform.”
He argued that the responsibility for pursuing political change rests with opposition leaders rather than musicians and artists, citing the late Morgan Tsvangirai and Nelson Chamisa as examples of political figures entrusted with that role.
The Chimurenga icon also questioned why his decision had generated widespread outrage when several other musicians and religious leaders had accepted similar gifts from Chivhayo without attracting the same level of criticism.
“Many respected musicians, including Feli Nandi, Alick Macheso, Baba Manyeruke, Leonard Zhakata, the late Nicholas Zakaria and others, have accepted similar gifts over the months and years,” he said.
Mapfumo revealed that he intends to donate most of the proceeds from the gift to charity, saying personal enrichment was never his motivation.
“I plan to donate most of the proceeds to a local charity,” he said.
Appealing to his supporters for understanding, the veteran musician maintained that his convictions remain unchanged.
“I remain an activist, and my principles have not been compromised. I have not sold out my conscience or my values, and I intend to remain true to them for the rest of my life,” he said.
In his closing remarks, Mapfumo described himself as an “all-weather activist” who would continue using his music to speak out against injustice and campaign for freedom and social justice.
“I remain a die-hard activist until the day I leave Mother Earth,” he said.
Mapfumo’s statement comes amid growing public debate over Chivhayo’s high-profile gifts to musicians, church leaders and other prominent public figures, with critics questioning whether recipients can remain independent voices after accepting such donations.
Chivayo offered Mapfumo US$500 000 to perform at Jah Prayzah’s wedding and US$1 million to perform at the controversial tycoon’s birthday party.
Mapfumo accepted, stating the money is payment for work.
