By Nobleman Runyanga
The US-based mbira musician, Thomas Mapfumo is in the eye of a storm following a tweet posted this week by the financial weekly, The Financial Gazette to the effect that the 74-year old musician had indicated that he would not want to be buried at the National Heroes Acre.
“Chimurenga musician Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo says he would not want to be buried at the National Heroes Acre as it has lost its significance,” The Financial Gazette tweeted on Monday.
The tweet elicited a barrage of criticism of the musician who is not a stranger to controversy.
“Thieves like him are not worth to be at the Heroes Acre. Who told him those lies? (The late musician and national hero, Oliver) “Tuku” (Mtukudzi, who was declared a national hero in January this year) was no car thief,” responded a twitter user who only identified himself as Muchy Matt
Some social media users blamed Mapfumo’s superiority complex for his unfortunate and unsolicited comments.
“His biggest mistake is his ego. He thinks since Tuku was declared a hero so must he. Tuku remains miles ahead of this big-mouthed economic refugee,” Tinashe Dziva weighed in.
Miffed by Mapfumo’s self-important comments some respondents referred to his waning career.
“Dzofunga sekuti inational hero. Dzakauya muZimbabwe dzikadzokera dzisina kana cent,” mocked one @Doshmark on twitter.
Mapfumo was bluntly reminded that he is nowhere near national hero material.
“I don't think Zimbabwe government was ever going to consider burying Mukanya at the national shrine. He is no hero. He can't compare himself na Tuku,” one @babaMamre shot back at the weekly’s post.
When some social media users attempted to argue that the national shrine had lost its significance to him others would have none of it.
“But still it doesn't make him a hero. He must develop his village where he will be buried,” Dziva weighed in again.
Some citizens reminded others of how Mapfumo hobnobbed with the MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa during Mtukudzi’s funeral in Norton in January and speculated that the opposition politician could have whispered into the musician’s ears that if he gets into power he would declare him a national hero.
“Chamisa, why did you lie to Mapfumo that he is a hero?” Godfrey Shumba asked.
Mapfumo’s inglorious past which includes his charges of motor vehicle theft were also hung out in the public domain as people pointed out that the musician was not a hero by any measure.
“He is just an old former musician (and) car thief. He can never be a hero in Zimbabwe. He ran away to America and he doesn’t qualify,” Shumba also said.
The post also reminded some Zimbabweans of Mapfumo’s mean-spiritedness citing how he described the popular sungura musician, Alick Macheso as an upcoming musician despite a long and successful career spanning over 30 years.
“Ava vekuti Macheso is upcoming artist?” posted an angered Bridget Linzi on Facebook.
“Bridget Linzi, ndopandakaona hubenzi hwake paye. Who said he is a hero? He is no longer relevant. Our kids don't (even) know him,” said Chatworth Gumbo in response to Linzi’s remarks.
Others took a dig at his uncouth behaviour which is unbefitting of his age and social standing as a musician.
“Ane basa rei Mukanya zvekuti anganzi igamba? Haana hunhu. Anotaura zvinyadzi paradio. Ane hutsinye. Haana muimbi waakasimudzira. Hatina basa naye,” fumed Kuda Nhira.
