Utakataka Express frontman Peter Moyo could have missed out on a chance to make use of the relationship between his late father, Tongai, and Mutare businessman and politician Esau Mupfumi.
SILENCE CHARUMBIRA
Mupfumi last week presented a Mercedes Benz E240 to Jah Prayzah as a token of appreciation for the cordial relationship he shares with the gangly musician.
The Young Igwe, as he is affectionately known, at one time denounced his late father’s friends saying they were not his friends.
The statements drew the ire of many promoters who had assisted the musician’s late father Tongai Moyo.
These included Mupfumi who had assisted the musician several times during his battle with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Although Mupfumi swept the issue under the carpet, the general feeling is that Peter’s utterances are now haunting him.
Jah Prayzah performs at least once every month at Mupfumi’s club Pick &Save in Mutare.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
According to Mupfumi, Jah Prayzah now occupies the space that used to be Dhewa’s.
“When Tongai died, I felt I needed a friend in the music industry who would take his place,” said Mupfumi.
Although he refused to talk about Peter, he said at first he dismissed Jah Prayzah until he saw him at the Unity Gala in Gokwe back in 2012. “I asked a friend for his number and I gave him a show in Mutare the following weekend,” he said.
“Everyone needs a friend and that’s what I found in Jah Prayzah.” But Peter, who is currently experiencing a rough patch on the showbiz scene, last week said he was not moved by the gesture.
“What Jah Prayzah got has nothing to do with me. He knows the relationship that he enjoys with Mupfumi and I have nothing against it,” he said.
“I still have a good relationship with Mupfumi. If he is friends with me it does not mean he cannot be friends with the next musician. I am not jealous; after all I have got my own cars.”
To compound his problems, Peter has reportedly lost his lead guitarist Willard Loti who is heading to South Africa, forcing the musician to re-engage a former guitarist who had earlier defected to Energy Mutodi’s camp.
Another “rebel”, Spencer Khumulani, is also back in the band but is reported to be contemplating another departure to pursue a solo career.
Peter has often failed to pay wages for the band due to poor attendances at his gigs.
Patson Chimbodza, aka Chipaz, said Peter indeed lost out. “When he came into the industry he did not know anything about the trade and he needed to learn the implications of such careless statements,” said Chipaz.
“He did lose out considering that Mupfumi and Dhewa were more like brothers; he has failed to capitalise on that.”
Another promoter, Fidelis Ngove, said Peter needed to take advice. “I may not say he lost out but in this business, one needs to swallow his/her pride,” said Ngove.
“We try to educate these youngsters but they seem to be overcome by fame way too early. Things change either for the better or worse and they have to realise humility is really important.”
