The lifestyle of fame is something that many would want as they think it’s glamorous especially in the eyes of ordinary people who adore the celebrities.
Winstone Antonio
Before getting deep a celebrity is defined by Wikipedia, as a famous person who has certain attributes that society deems exceptional and has a prominent profile within the media.
However, in other cases, people become celebrities due to media attention for their extravagant lifestyle or wealth.
Fast travelling and posh cars, putting on expensive designer’s clothes, nice big houses in the residential suburbs like Borrowdale, Westgate, Glen Lorne and Belvedere only to mention but a few and holidaying in some of the most exotic destinations and having extravagant dinners — thus characterises the life of a celebrity in Zimbabwe.
Watching such kind of lifestyle chronicled in some of the magazines and other different media platforms, many are left to believe that the life of celebrities is just rosy.
In other parts of the world, fame brings fortune, but locally, celebrity status has brought with it children, moving them out of marriages as it seems like fame has given some of them a licence to exploit women or to lure man at the same time.
The behaviour of some of these celebrities had earned them nothing, but bad publicity which has negatively affected the growth of their otherwise brilliant and promising careers be it in the musical arena or acting career.
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The number of children sired by some of local celebrities with different women shows that their fame has rendered them crazy to the extent of engaging in risky sexual behaviours.
As this is not enough, some of them their marriages failed to work. What could be the root problem? Is it about the money, is it about the fame or could it be the “achieved prowess” seeping through their heads or, better still, a combination of all?
Could it be a fulfillment of the old adage, more money, and more problems? Well so many questions, yet very little answers.
Taking a closer look at different issues involving celebrities, one may be impelled to conclude that the discipline that comes with being a celebrity has disappeared within some of the local celebrities.
However, for the few who have managed to receive and accept counseling like the Big Brother Africa 2010 finalist Munyaradzi Chidzonga have managed to reunite with their families.
Chidzonga once reported to have divorced his wife, Adiona Maboreke, a former Idols Africa finalist, for whom he paid lobola for upon his return from the reality show where he pocketed $300 000 for coming second.
Allegations of another celebrity, urban groover Rockford Josphat, are that he fathered more than eight children with different mothers.
The energetic dancer and mellifluous singer has had children with Pauline Gunduza, and is alleged to have others with Amanda Enude his dancer, Melody Musekiwa and many others who are reported to have not come forth to claim their children’s paternity with the celebrated artiste.
Roki at one point was alleged to have openly announced that he wanted to have as many children as possible with different women to form a “soccer team” and make a band filled with his children.
With such utterances, one would question his integrity as a role model for the young people especially those who are followers of the urban grooves genre.
Television and theatre actress, Chipo Bizure ultimately broke the record after reportedly getting married and divorced three times in a space of four years, something that people thought only took place in Hollywood.
With all such type of behaviors being displayed by local celebrities, the questions therefore is; what will the society learn from them (celebrities)?
Meanwhile, people who spoke to NewsDay Leisure expressed their disappointment about how local celebrities have lost respect among members of the society.
Trust Chikanda of Mabvuku said celebrities must not behave in a way that makes their admirers take away the pride they hold for them.
“I am disenchanted by the way some of our celebrities behave with some of them doing un expected messes from them that takes away all the pride people might have for them. As celebrities, they are supposed to be role models for all ages in the society and must lead by example,” said Chikanda.
“Fame demands greater responsibility not recklessness just like available facts of some of our celebrities. Someone who can have many children with different mothers suggests unprotected sexual encounters with multiple partners, a leading cause of HIV and Aids which they are suppose to be advocating for,” said Lydia Banda of Msasa Park.
However, taking a closer look at the likes of Oliver Mtukudzi, Charles Charamba and Machanic Manyeruke, among others, it can be noted that they have managed to maintain their respect in society as celebrities and remained role models for many across the social divide nationwide.
But to bring to the revelation, celebrities’ lifestyles have fallen under constant public scrutiny and if their behaviours would go unchecked, celebrities may be headed for the demise of their careers.
