OLIVER “Tuku” Mtukudzi’s former publicist Shepherd Mutamba has said he is too busy to respond to his former boss. Silence Charumbira
This comes after Tuku claimed he had not given Mutamba permission to write the book, Tuku Backstage, whose sensitive excerpts have had readers wondering if indeed Tuku was aware of the book.
But yesterday Mutamba requested NewsDay to email him questions after being asked to respond to Tuku’s assertions.
In response to the questions sent, Mutamba said he was too busy with the book to respond to Tuku.
“My answer is: ‘I don’t have the time right now to respond to Tuku’s statement because I am busy working on the book. People are waiting to read the book’.”
But the drama over Tuku Backstage continues to unfold with the public being left in the dark and left to speculate.
In his long-awaited response, Tuku even alleges that Mutamba went behind his back and started writing a biography only two years ago.
He said he had read the excerpts that have been published in a local newspaper with great dismay that Mutamba had acquired some of the information in confidence during conversations with the band and some of his family members.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Mutamba, on the other hand, pointed out that he had been given the permission to write the book by the veteran musician.
According to the excerpts, the book contains explosive information that many readers doubt was sanctioned by the superstar.
Tuku, however, alleges that “everything” in the book is an attack on him.
“There is nothing positive at all. Is that Mutamba’s summary of who I am as a man?” wrote Tuku.
He said he is currently consulting his lawyers on the action to take. But as the drama continues to unfold, it is definite that more people are keen to read the book if it is released.
If it is published, due to Tuku’s standing as a mega star, it is likely to be a billion-dollar business venture for whoever will be responsible for selling the book.
Music writer Professor Fred Zindi yesterday said he finds it difficult to imagine Tuku granted Mutamba permission. He said he knows Mutamba worked for Tuku for a long time, but for him to come out with an infringement of privacy, something must have happened.
“For me to say he got permission from Tuku, I find it difficult,” said Zindi.
“I am an author as well and I tried to get information from Oliver five years ago and he said kana interview yacho yakuenda ikoko ngatimbomirayi (if that is the direction the interview is taking, we can stop it).
“It is beyond me really. If you need to know if Mutamba indeed got permission, then you need to interview Tuku himself.”
