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God still has purpose for me — Tuku

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Music superstar Oliver Mtukudzi, who turns 60 on Saturday, believes he has lived beyond most of his peers because God has a purpose that he still has to fulfill.

Music superstar Oliver Mtukudzi, who turns 60 on Saturday, believes he has lived beyond most of his peers because God has a purpose that he still has to fulfill.

Report by Godwin Muzari Group Lifestyle Editor In his birthday message released yesterday by Tuku Music, the musician said he was convinced that his son Sam, who died at the age of 21, had fulfilled God’s purpose.

  “Sixty years are a blessing because some of my peers were not so lucky. I am alive because I think God still has a purpose for me and whatever that purpose is I don’t know,” said Tuku.

  “Once our individual purposes are fulfilled we meet the fullness of our time. And I don’t know what I have to fulfill because one will never know that.

  “When my son Sam died (March 2010) I want to believe that he had achieved what God had set out for him, young as he was.”

  The musician said he will thank God for the blessing of a long life through continuing to serve the Lord and striving to be a better person before Him.

  Although he did not know outstanding purposes that God set for him, he would continue singing because music has its purpose in people’s lives.

  “The purpose of music is to give life and hope to people. Music is a powerful prayer for me to touch the hearts of people

  “When my mother said my first cry at birth was my best-ever composition, it gave me the feeling that God created me to be an artist. I will continue singing.”

  He thanked his fans for inspiring him to keep focused and strong.

  “At 60, I still can do the things that I did when I was 40. Age is defined in time and wisdom . . . wisdom which must be shared among people and time which we don’t have. My fans keep me fit, focused and inspired because I have a purpose for them.”

  The musician shed some light on his private life revealing that his favourite meal is sadza and chicken feet. He credited his wife for being a source of strength.

  “I walk for an hour with my wife Daisy . . . sometimes for an hour and half daily. She is a huge source of strength and a pillar in my life and work. She makes me happy.”

  Tuku said he would do his best to assist the disadvantaged and urged leaders to follow suit.

  “It was always my dream as a young boy to serve in the humanitarian field of life and will endeavour to do even more philanthropic work by offering my assistance and service to the disadvantaged among us.

  “World leaders should stop wasting time fighting for personal enrichment and power and give more attention to people and their needs, not certain classes, but all people. If we do that we can make the world a better place.”

  He saluted fellow artists Thomas Mapfumo, Zexie Manatsa, Tineyi Chikupo, Safirio Madzikatire and others who started before him for setting the pace for him and other artists that were inspired by their works.