Huge crowds throng burial of Sam Mtukudzi

By Lance Guma
17 March 2010

Hundreds of mourners gathered at Warren Hills Cemetery in Harare on Wednesday to witness the burial of Sam Mtukudzi, the son of legendary musician Oliver Mtukudzi, who died in a car crash Monday morning. Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu, who is the patron of the Zimbabwe Union of Musicians, was the Master of Ceremony at the burial.

Government ministers from across the political divide, family and friends, including fellow musicians like Alick Macheso, Tongai Moyo, Mechanic Manyeruke, Charles Charamba and other celebrities, came to support the Mtukudzi family as they buried their only son. Kaizer Chiefs football star Tinashe Nengomasha, engaged to Mtukudzi’s eldest daughter Sandra, was also there.

On Tuesday evening Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai made the journey to Norton and personally offered his condolences to the family. ‘I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to Oliver, his wife Daisy and the rest of the Mtukudzi family following the sad passing of Sam,’ Tsvangirai said. He added that the Mtukudzi family had, ‘lost a beacon of hope’ and the music industry had become ‘poorer’ after Sam’s death.

Also on Tuesday huge crowds thronged Nyaradzo Funeral Parlour to view the body and this was followed by a church service in a packed room. The crowd was so large members of the Mtukudzi family had to plead with those jostling to enter to come instead for Wednesday’s public funeral. This was held at the Pakare Paye Arts Centre, which Mtukudzi built in Norton several years ago.

Hundreds of cars lined up in a procession escorted by the police from Pakare Paye to the Warren Hills Cemetery in Harare. Sam was buried side by side with his friend and sound engineer Owen Chimhare, who also died in Monday’s tragic crash.

Mtukudzi meanwhile has been receiving condolence messages from across the world with South African stars Ringo Madlingozi, Judith Sepuma and Mzwake Mbuli leading the way. U.S based Chimurenga musician Thomas Mapfumo has also called to offer his condolences.