Veteran musician Thomas Mapfumo is facing the possibility of legal action after his former publicist, Dr Blessing Vava, demanded that he retract statements allegedly linking Vava to the musical career of Kurai Makore.
Vava has given Mapfumo and a local publication 48 hours to withdraw the remarks and issue a public apology, arguing that the allegations are false and have harmed his professional reputation.
The dispute follows an interview in which Mapfumo reportedly claimed that Vava had influenced Makore’s career decisions and suggested that the musician had been negatively influenced by people around him, including Vava. Makore is related to Mapfumo.
Vava has rejected the allegations, insisting that they have no factual basis.
“This allegation is false, malicious, and unsupported by a single credible fact,” Vava said in a statement.
He also said the latest accusations were not the first time Mapfumo had made allegations against him.
Vava referred to a 2019 incident in which Mapfumo reportedly accused him of taking money from concert gate takings during a Peace Tour.
According to Vava, he decided against pursuing legal action at the time because of his respect for Mapfumo as an elder and celebrated musician.
However, he said he had now reached a point where he could no longer remain silent.
“I will no longer remain silent while my name and professional reputation are used as collateral damage,” he said.
Vava has therefore demanded that Mapfumo and the publication retract the statements and publicly apologise within 48 hours.
He warned that failure to comply would result in him approaching the High Court for legal redress.
Mapfumo had not responded to the demand at the time of publication.
