Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Trust Khosa
8 March 2008
Harare — AILING sungura giant Tongai "Dhewa" Moyo has fired a salvo at music promoters and top artistes whom he says are using his illness to make money.
The Utakataka Express frontman said the promoters and artistes were giving the impression that they were contributing to his battle against cancer yet he has been footing his own medical bills. Since being diagnosed with cancer last year, the Kwekwe-based artiste undergoes chemotherapy every month -- which does not come cheap in Zimbabwe.
In a fit of pique, the singer told this reporter that he was not bankrupt, neither was he a charity case.
"I am not happy with some media reports about some promoters and top musicians who are planning to hold benefit shows for me because I have since realised that they are now making money out of my illness.
"I have been following the Press reports with keen interest and there are some people already saying that they are holding benefit shows for me when, in fact, I am the one meeting all the expenses of those shows," he said.
"If I may tell you the truth, the few shows I staged this year, I was responsible for all the expenses and even paid some artistes who supported me because I felt I should also help fellow artistes wherever I can.
"So where is all this stuff about people fund-raising for me coming from? Tell me? Zvimwe zvinhu hazvina kunaka machinda.
"The same people (promoters) once snubbed me opting for rival musicians, but they are now flocking back to me because those artistes are now doing it on their own."
Moyo said he was not at a stage where he would need tobeg for assistance.
"One thing some people don't know about me is that I have always said and I will keep on saying that I am a professional.
"I have my (insurance) policies and other businesses which sustain me other than magitare sezvinoita vamwe vedu.
"I have my medical aid and my policies and I am not yet bankrupt as some people would want to believe," he fumed.
Tongai said if he needed financial assistance, he would not go begging for it since his sponsors were ready to open their chequebooks should the need arise.
"There are some people who have helped me rise to where I am today and I don't think that they will abandon me today because of my ill-health."
Tongai said all he wanted from the public was their prayers and moral support, not money.
"Of course, I can't rule out the support of my fans, but at the moment, I need their prayers only.
"I have a fan base and my fans will always pray for me," he said.
Since being diagnosed with Non Hodgkin Lymphoma, a form of cancer. that starts in cells of the lymph system -- which is part of the body's immune system -- Tongai has managed to stage gigs in Kadoma and Chinhoyi.
Last week, he attracted a full house at Pamuzinda Highway X-scape before proceeding to Marondera for another well-attended gig.
On Sunday, he was back in Harare for a family show in the Harare Gardens.
While there is nothing wrong in engaging promoters, Tongai said, he felt it was unfair for them to either cheapen artistes or portray them as desperate.
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i AM A MOTSWANA LADY AND ME AND FAMILY ARE TONGAI MOYO'S GREAT FANS. IT HURTS ALOT TO HEAR WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SRE SAYING AND DOIN ABOUT HIS ILLNESS. BUT I JUST TO SAY WE ARE WITH HIM IN OUR PRAYERS ONLY GOD KNOWS EVERYTHIN IN THIS WORLD. WE WISH HIM WELL. HE MUST FORGET ABOUT WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT HIM AND FOCUS ON HIS CAREER GOD WILL FIGHT FOR HIM. FROM SEBOLELO, MOSUPI, TEMPO, NEO,VERDI AND PHATSIMO NKAKI. HOW DO I JOIN HIS FAN CLUB
i AM A MOTSWANA LADY AND ME AND FAMILY ARE TONGAI MOYO'S GREAT FANS. IT HURTS ALOT TO HEAR WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SRE SAYING AND DOIN ABOUT HIS ILLNESS. BUT I JUST TO SAY WE ARE WITH HIM IN OUR PRAYERS ONLY GOD KNOWS EVERYTHIN IN THIS WORLD. WE WISH HIM WELL. HE MUST FORGET ABOUT WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT HIM AND FOCUS ON HIS CAREER GOD WILL FIGHT FOR HIM. FROM SEBOLELO, MOSUPI, TEMPO, NEO,VERDI AND PHATSIMO NKAKI. HOW DO I JOIN HIS FAN CLUB