Oliver Mutukudzi declared national hero

Singer Oliver Mutukudzi who died yesterday has been declared a national hero becoming only the second Zimbabwean without any military or liberation struggle background to be declared so since President Emmerson Mnangagwa came to power in November 2017.

Former National University of Science and Technology vice-chancellor Professor Phineas Makhurane who died last month was also declared a national hero but was buried at his rural home.

The announcement was made by Mnangagwa when he visited Tuku’s home in Norton this evening.

Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa also went to Norton to pay his condolences.

Earlier Chamisa had tweeted: “That the people’s legend, Oliver Mtukudzi is a People’s HERO is beyond deliberation. For such a plain fact, we mere mortals can only acknowledge as we all hereby do. That he is a HERO is not because he has passed on but because he always was, even before his final rest.”

Sports, Arts and Recreation Minister Kirsty Coventry said her ministry is organising a Tuku memorial concert and has set up an organising committee to spearhead the logistical arrangements.

“My ministry is organising a memorial music concert to celebrate the life of a legend and his achievements in music as well as bidding him an appropriate send off. In that vein, corporates who benefitted immensely from Dr Mtukudzi’s works through advertisements, promotion and marketing activities, among other commissioned works, are encouraged to come on board in making arrangements for the concert and his burial,” she said.

“As of tomorrow Friday, the 26th of January, 2019, an appeal is being made to the womenfolk, who constitute a sizeable percentage of Tuku’s fan base to put on black attire including headdress in what is being dubbed “TUKU DHUKU”. Males are being encouraged to put on African shirts and head-dress, and should they choose formal attire it should be without a necktie.”

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