By Anesu Chakanetsa

THE attacks superstar Oliver Mtukudzi has been subjected to over his performance during the resoundingly successful ZANU PF One-Million-Man March, besides being a case of sour grapes, is yet another example of the dishonesty the opposition MDC-T has been associated with over the years.
The MDC-T claimed ‘Tuku’, as the iconic musician is affectionately referred to by his legion of fans, had ‘betrayed’ Zimbabweans.
This is despite Soul Jah Love and Mathias Mhere having performed at the same gathering.
MDC-T spokesman Obert Gutu slammed Tuku, claiming the legendary musician had ‘sold’ his soul.
“Tuku has sold out his soul for few a pieces of silver!” said Gutu
“Thomas Mapfumo woye.
“So is Tuku now a ZANU PF cadre?
“Love of money.
“Shame Thomas Mapfumo woye.”
But this is the same Tuku who performed at MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s supposed wedding to Elizabeth Macheka a few years ago.
Ironically, Macheka is daughter to former ZANU PF Central Committee member, Joseph Macheka.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Tuku at a ZANU PF function because he is a musician whose talents are on demand.
Tsvangirai personally went to pay condolences to Mtukudzi after the tragic death of his son Sam while President Mugabe also sent a passionate statement consoling the musician.
So why the hullaballoo?
This is why the argument that his career is under threat is flimsy and must be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.
If anything, it is the careers of those in the MDC-T and that of Thomas Mapfumo, that forgotten musician, which are under threat because his anti-ZANU PF rhetoric does not sell and is duly ignored by progressive Zimbabweans.
Tuku performed at an event organised by the ZANU PF Youth League to honour and celebrate President Robert Mugabe’s leadership.
And this has, as widely expected, been met with disdain by the MDC-T because it was a ZANU PF event.
How has the innocent Mtukudzi suddenly become partisan?
It is surprising for fellow Zimbabweans, who over the years have listened to Tuku’s music which has touched many lives in Africa, to suddenly disparage him today.
Tuku’s music speaks to everyone in Zimbabwe.
As such, he can be invited anywhere he wants and mesmerise fans, like he always does and like he did at Robert Mugabe Square on Africa Day.
This situation reminds one of Zex Manatsa’s sensation when he released three different songs for three rival football teams in Zimbabwe.
Dynamos fans did not criticise Manatsa for singing ‘Kushayisa Mufaro’, a song for CAPS United, neither did CAPS fans raise their fists against Manatsa for singing ‘Tamirira’, a song for Dynamos.
Mtukudzi performed at First Lady Amai Dr Grace Mugabe’s birthday last year.
Any institution is allowed to invite any musician to their events and in this case, ZANU PF invited Oliver Mtukudzi to perform on Africa Day.
Mukudzei ‘Jah Prayzah’ Mukombe, Sulumani Chimbetu and Mathius Mhere have faced the same criticisms because they performed at the 2013 ZANU PF election Manifesto launch.
Despite the critics, their music continues riding high and entertains everyone despite political affiliation.
Soul Jah Love, the Zim-dancehall sensation, was also criticised for singing his single, ‘Zimbabwe Nyika Yedu’, a song which praises the country’s resources, nature, its people and its leader.
However, the lanky chanter continues to make his mark in music.
It is just a matter of patriotism.
When Zimbabwe attained independence on April 18 1980, Bob Marley was invited to sing at the historic occasion.
It was a celebration for everybody.
Other local musicians like Tuku himself and Cde Dick Chingaira also performed.
The country was born through music and it continues to foster relations through music.
On April 18 1980, Marley sang about the plight of the blackman.
And during the struggle for independence, Tuku sang revolutionary songs meant to liberate the people of Zimbabwe from white minority rule.
Everywhere else in the world, singers commemorate every success of their countries, be it election success or national events.
When US President Barack Obama came to power in 2009, most US singers took to the stage to celebrate his victory.
No one criticised Alicia Keys for being partisan.
An avid Tuku fan, Danai Hove from Harare said lambasting Tuku for performing at a ZANU PF function on Africa Day is not only shocking, but displays a certain level of shallowness on the part of MDC-T’s Gutu.
“In fact as a ‘decent’ lawyer, Gutu should know better,” said Hove.