The Sunday Mail
There are only two things that are certain in life, we are told, and these are death and taxes.
On October 15, the nation marks three years since Tongai “Igwe” Moyo passed on to the yonder world.
While confusion and squabbles among Tongai’s family, friends and band members characterised the days and months immediately after Igwe’s demise, a voice of reason seems to have quickly pacified the warring parties that threatened the future not only of Utakataka Express employees but of the Moyo family that relies on the group’s existence.
Igwe’s mother Gogo Esther Vhengeya (82), known to many as Gogo Chihera, said last week that life had in the last two years changed not for the “expected” bad but better under the care of Peter, son of Tongai.
She said “Young Igwe” had so far been able to take care of her day-to-day needs together with those of other family members left in his custody.
A couple of months after Tongai’s death, there were allegations that Peter had abandoned his father’s family after he moved from the Msasa house in Kwekwe to Mbizo. He was also alleged to have refused to pay school fees for some of his siblings.
Tongai had six known children, with Peter being the eldest followed by Nyasha, Tanaka, Nicole, Tongai Junior aka Obert and Natasha.
“So far I have no complaints. The only pain that I have is that I lost a son . . . Peter has done a lot for me. I think he has matched and surpassed what his father used to do despite having two families to look after,” said Gogo Chihera.
She stays with Brilliant Ndlovu’s wife Ruramai Nyemba and her daughter Tadiwa Ndlovu. Brilliant is Tongai’s nephew.
Apart from taking care of her medical bills, providing food and other day-to-day needs, Gogo Chihera said Peter had built her a new kitchen, a brick-and-mortar grain storage house and renovated as well as painted her house. Peter also has plans to construct a new house at the family’s rural home.
The soft-spoken elderly lady was, however, quick to point out that she felt pity for her grandchild. She said she acutely understood the kind of pressure he was under.
“He was left with the burden of looking after old people like myself but he is managing though he himself should also be under the guidance of an older person.
“I was at his place for a couple of months recently receiving medical attention for my asthma, eyes and sore legs and I observed that he works so hard,” she said.
Gogo Chihera spoke at length about the pain and sorrow that she has had to endure in the eight decades that she has been around Mother Earth. She had three children, the two late sons John and Tongai and daughter Tarisai, who is alive.
She said she was praying for Peter to settle down sooner rather than later. Advice for him to marry, she says, has been met with resistance by the Kwekwe-based musician. Peter has in the past three years been linked to several women.
“He should get married and look after his own family together with that left by his father. I don’t want to have problems again after I lose him just like I did with his father.
“I have met his girlfriend in town and we are in good books. She knows me very well. But Peter is afraid to marry because he thinks the wife might fail to look after the family left in his custody or might make it difficult for him to do so,” said Gogo Chihera.
She went on: “I wish for God to bless him so that he gets more resources to carry on with the good work he is doing. I want him to continue providing for the family without pressure.”
Apart from Peter, Gogo Chihera says Knowledge Chosa, a nephew and former manager to Tongai, has also been very supportive. Chosa fronts a group called Zvakatsetseka Express and frequently visits the old lady.
A village headman in the Sesombe area, Mahlatini Manokore, said he was pleased with the work and progress that the “Young Igwe” was making.
“I am glad that Peter has filled the gap left by his father. All is well this side. The young man is doing his best and that should be commended,” he said.
Last year in an open letter to the late musician, Miniehle Mukweli, Dhewa’s surviving wife wrote: “Peter is coping well with the music legacy you left him.
Though he has faced many challenges, he has been able to rise to all occasions.
We have had our fall-outs, but still, mwana, I have forgiven him and I have managed to find peace in life.
“I am very happy that he is looking after Chihera.”
Peter noted the death of his father exposed him to the world’s harsh realities at a tender age.
“Life has been a challenge. I have had to deal with issues that some guys of my age can never imagine. I should by now be gradually graduating from my father’s care, but that’s no longer the case.
“I, however, will try to keep my head high and deliver my best. I take seriously different advice that I get. When I do wrong people should not fear to correct me,” he said.
