by Tawanda Musariri

Zimbabwe’s top music celebrities, Thomas Mapfumo and Oliver Mtukudzi have taken to micro blogging site Twitter to denounce the cowardly grenade attack that targeted but missed President Emmerson Mnangagwa as he made his way out from the White City Stadium in Bulawayo on Saturday.

President Mnangagwa had just finished addressing a record attended Zanu PF provincial rally, soliciting for support for his candidature ahead of the July election.

Writing on his Twitter handle @TukuOfficial,  Oliver Mtukudzi  said, Twitter “As Zimbabweans we do not support violence of any nature in our daily lives, the song Ngoromera talks about that very issue. We stand together as Zimbabweans with those affected and proclaim peace throughout our nation.”

 In the Ngoromera song, Tuku sings, “Ngoromera harina zvarinobatsira...” which means that violence does not pay..it is not constructive.

American based Chimurenga Music legend, Thomas Mapfumo, through his Twitter handle @chimurengamusic said, “We are all the great people of Zimbabwe. Let’s stand united and caring for each other. Use of violence & bloodshed to resolve issues are bad. No matter what, let’s shun violence in Zimbabwe. We need to find common ground and non violent ways to resolve issues. We condemn violence.”

The grenade explosion left at least 50 people nursing various extents of injuries. Among the wounded are Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Mrs Marry Chiwenga, wife to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and Zanu PF national chairperson Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri. The three were all hospitalized in Bulawayo following the terrorist attack.

The attack has received widespread condemnation locally and internationally, with voices of commiseration with the victims and condemnation of the attackers coming from the SADC and AU communities.

Music legend Oliver Mtukudzi is famed for his peace-searching and making music in the past 45 years. For this, Tuku has earned the esteemed Ambassadorship for Children in East and Southern Africa with UNICEF.