The Sunday Mail
Harmony Agere and Norman Muchemwa
Artists yesterday paid tribute to national hero Dr Oliver Mtukudzi with a musical concert at National Sports Stadium in Harare attended by thousands of mourners.
The concert, attended by thousands featured artistes including Alick Macheso, Jah Prayzah, Killer T and Bob Nyabinde.
Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation Minister Kirsty Coventry described Dr Mtukudzi as a person who lived to unify people.
“Zimbabweans you are here with me today celebrating the life of our late hero and our legend Tuku,” she said.
“He is going to be missed, in one of his songs and one of my favourite he asks ‘what shall we do’?
“He was a man that lived to unify people, he was a man that lived by values and he was a man that loved his country. I hope we will respect and honour him by installing those values into every single one of us and I hope, going forward, we will be a unified proud Zimbabwe.
Musicians who include Bob Nyabinde, Jah Prayzah, Alick Macheso and music promoter Josh Hozheri spoke glowingly about Tuku’s music career.
A farewell church service for national hero and international music icon Dr Oliver Mtukudzi was yesterday held at his Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton.
The service was led by the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe’s Bishop Kudakwashe Paradza. He was 66. Addressing mourners at the service, Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Minister Mary Mliswa Chikoka paid tribute to the late Tuku and said he was a musician known across the globe.
“I thank everyone who came to mourn with us here in Mashonaland West on a sad day,” she said.
“Tuku was a loving man, he was a unifier as he brought people from different backgrounds together
The church service was also attended by Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ziyambi, legislators from the political divide, government officials and various artists. Bishop Paradza encouraged the family to find comfort in the Lord.
“You are not alone, God is in control. We have a loving and caring God who will be with us every step of the way. Put your trust unto Him and be comforted,” he said. Bishop Paradza urged MDC-Alliance officials including Tendai Biti and Murisi Zwizwai, who also attended the church service, to heed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s call for dialogue.
After the service Dr Mtukudzi’s body was taken to the National Sports Stadium for a farewell gig held in his honour before departing for One Commando barracks en-route to Madziva in Mashonaland Central where he will be buried today. At One Commando Barracks the body was seen off by Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa, ministers Ziyambi and Mliswa Chikoka and the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association chairperson Cde Chris Mutsvangwa among others.
