Correspondent|Music Legend Thomas ”Mukanya” Mapfumo made profound remarks that the  national hero’s status isn’t a privilege only awarded to the gun alone, whilst speaking on the death of his long-time friend, Oliver ”Tuku”.

In an interview conducted by the local tabloid H-Metro, on hearing the news of Tuku’s death yesterday, Mukanya said Tuku Samanyanga is a national hero and befitting the national hero’s status, pleading with the leadership to recognise his contribution to the industry’s arts industry.

”A national hero is not about the gun alone and I am hoping that leadership recognises his (Tuku) his contribution.”

The musical Maestro passed on yesterday afternoon at Avenues Clinic at the age of 66 after a long illness, which had forced him to cancel shows and had recently failed to attend the Coca-Cola music awards on Tuesday where he was to receive an honorary award.

His untimely death comes at a time when the country is coming from crippling strikes and protests that led to the death of 12 civilians and the injure of over 68 civilians at the hands of the military and police.

The world waits to see if President Mnangagwa’s will heed to the call to award the maestro the national hero’s status, as pressure is mounting, with Themba Mliswa also pleading with the president for the musician to be declared a nation hero.

Mapfumo went on to say that

”Zimbabwe music is poorer, this is a great loss to our generation, to the arts industry, to the country as a whole and even the region. Oliver has been a great ambassador for Zimbabwe and surely deserves national hero status for all he has done to the arts industry and preserving our culture as a country,” said Mapfumo.