No more time for Koffi Olomide: Bryn Mteki

17 Jun, 2018 - 00:06 0 Views
No more time for Koffi Olomide: Bryn Mteki

The Sunday Mail

The 43-year-old African roots musician, sculptor and businessman believes his stay in various countries over 16 years has moulded him into the man fit for Zimbabwe’s top political job.
Of the 23 Presidential candidates, he is the only independent runner.

Rhumba maestro Koffi Olomide’s new music project has to wait, because his recording partner Bryn Taurai Mteki has weightier issues to attend to: he wants to become President of Zimbabwe.

From penning songs for the eight-track album, which also features colourful businessman-cum-politician Dr Philip Chiyangwa, Mteki is writing the inauguration speech he hopes he will read after the July 30 elections.

Known as Sekuru Tau, Mteki shot to stardom for his song “Nora”, a duet with then Zanu-PF National Political Commissar, Cde Elliot Manyika, one of the melodies to which the Land Reform Programme danced.

Last week, he was back in the limelight.

He surprised many by filing papers to stand in the Presidential election race; and surprised even more by saying he was heading straight home and would not be on the campaign trail.

Mteki says he has an ace up his sleeve – but he will not reveal it just yet.

The Sunday Mail visited him at his recording studio in Harare on Friday.

“Sekuru Tau has a strategy. But I am not going to reveal that strategy; I will not tell my winning strategy to opponents.

“There is no way Barcelona will disclose its strategy to Real Madrid.

“But I can tell you, you are looking at the next President of Zimbabwe.”

Huge gold studs on the ears stylistically match his gold-tinted beard, and four thick dreadlocks are striking features of this aspiring President.

Mteki says people convinced him to go for the Presidency.

“I did not impose myself on people, but it is the people that want me and I have overwhelming support all over Zimbabwe,” he continues.

“I successfully filed my nomination papers that only should tell you that I have support.

“People might think I am joking, but this job is too big for someone to joke around with it.

“I was supposed to be preparing for a tour for my album due in this August, which I recorded with Koffi Olomide and Philip Chiyangwa – although I do not see myself dancing on the stage when I become President,” he chuckles.

The 43-year-old African roots musician, sculptor and businessman believes his stay in various countries over 16 years has moulded him into the man fit for Zimbabwe’s top political job.

Of the 23 Presidential candidates, he is the only independent runner.

In 2004 he pulled out of Zanu-PF’s primary elections, where he was up against Cde Joseph Chinotimba, at the 11 th hour.

“Most people think I am doing this because I was bought by some political parties to divide the vote, but the truth is I am being driven by the love of my country,” he says.

“I am a proud Zimbabwean, and when I sang ‘Nora’, I was being patriotic, nothing else.

“I remember some time back, I met the late Morgan Tsvangirai and Nelson Chamisa at OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa and we danced to the song.

“What I am saying is I do not belong to any political party.

“I belong to the people of Zimbabwe. Once I get into power, Zimbabwe will be a better country. That I promise.”

Will his look change?

Mteki says a President should be elected based on the feasibility and viability of ideas and proposed policies – not appearance.

“What is wrong with the way I look?” he asks back with a look of surprise.

“It is the ideas, the proposed policies that matter.

“I want Zimbabweans to have a better life, and it is all that matters.”

Mteki commends President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration for opening political and democratic space.

“It is a democracy that embraces everyone, even the Sekuru Taus of this world can now join politics,” he says as he prepares to leave for his next meeting.

“I am planning to use the road that passes through State House, so that by August I will be accustomed to it,” he says, before breaking into laughter and heading to the door.

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