By Tatenda Gapa

ONE cannot help but feel sorry for Chimurenga musician Thomas Mapfumo, especially in the context of his lies against his country of birth.
Mukanya, as he is affectionately known, is a victim of the lure of the dollar, the trend that manifested itself during the infancy of the Land Reform and Resettlement Programme.
Many ‘fled’ the country, rubbished it in foreign lands to gain asylum with the hope of returning home heroes.
For some that dream has already turned into a horrible nightmare.
One thing for sure is that Mukanya does not need to come back home in a coffin.
Looking at Mukanya’s life in the United States, that has been premised on a lie, one cannot help but see an unfortunate and horrible lifestyle similar to that the late prominent writer Chenjerai Hove led in Norway, where he died a lonely and miserable old man.
Hove died under terrible and shameful circumstances.
The writer’s life became a tragic example of the anguish and misery that comes when lies can no longer stand the test of time.
The same will happen to the Chimurenga music guru if he continues to blindly follow his phobic fear, in his self-imposed exile.
Mapfumo, well known for his Chimurenga music, decided to forsake the liberation struggle narrative and joined those that masqueraded as champions of human rights and democracy while serving the interests of the West for monetary ‘gains’.
Mukanya, desiring the ‘good’ life in the United States was unwilling to endure the hardships wrought by Western imposed sanctions. He chose to sell-out.
He acted not as a ‘champion of democracy’ or protector of the so-called ‘human-rights’ but as an individual who sought a good life for himself.
And to be accepted in the United States, the land of ‘milk’ and ‘honey’ Mukanya deliberately began to bad-mouth his country, its leadership and empowerment programmes.
He latched on to the vitriol of the West that condemned Zimbabweans for repossessing land which was rightfully theirs. Makanya claimed he was running away from Zimbabwe because of threats on life.
Everyone knew in those days that speaking ill against President Robert Mugabe and bad-mouthing the ruling ZANU PF was profitable.
But the lies that were readily believed then, the untruths that laced the Zimbabwean narrative have today lost credibility.
The West that supported, reassured and rewarded those turncoats yesterday is, true to form, now sacrificing those pawns.
The West, seeing that President Mugabe cannot be removed from power, has decided to engage him and the Government.
And in doing so, they have left the strays they had promised huge rewards in the form of money, ‘fame’, ‘honour’, international recognition and red carpets.
Abandoned and now ignored by sponsors, these characters like Mapfumo now yearn to come back home but they don’t know how.
But there is no triumphant return, the narrative has changed.
There will be no crowds and cameras waiting for them at the airport to give them a hero’s welcome.
Every time Mukanya opens his mouth one easily notes a very depressing sense of loneliness, desperate helplessness and complete despair.
It is an incontrovertible truth there is no substitute for home, it remains best.
Mukanya is resisting that deep call that visits one even in sleep to come back home. He is indeed frightened to come back home.
But what is he afraid of?
He is afraid to come back and face the demons of his lies.
As the year comes to an end and many in the Diaspora start trooping home for festivities with families Mukanya must be keenly feeling the loss.
It is his lies and nothing else that are ‘denying’ him access to home.
His hovering at the borders of the country is sad to say the least.
For the past seven years the musician has been expressing interest to come back home.
In fact, for the past seven years, the Chimurenga maestro has been seriously homesick.
Zimbabweans love Mukanya, he is a great musician; he has weaknesses like any of us.
Normal weaknesses that most people can identify with and these should not be a cause for fear.
Today we have in the country elements that have committed evils, that have ‘sinned’ against the values of the nation, that have violated cherished principles but still walk the streets freely, some of them even flourishing.
People and the authorities have not paid them any attention; they have been left to their mischief.
The likes of Alex Magaisa, Farai Maguwu and Okay Machisa have gone out of the country, delivered the most shocking statements and lied about the country, but unrepentant as they are, they are back home and free.
Why should Mukanya’s case be any different?
If the Lion of Zimbabwe, as he was known, does not come back home, he may one day die miserably and alone in a foreign land like Chenjerai Hove and put relatives as well as friends in a difficult situation.
Come back home Mukanya; like the prodigal son we want you home with family.