By A Correspondent| Social media was abuzz yesterday with videos of gospel icons Baba Mechanic Manyeruke and Mai Charamba collecting brand-new Toyota Fortuners, courtesy of controversial businessman Wicknell Chivhayo.

However, conspicuously absent from the event was Zora music maestro Leonard Karikoga Zhakata, sparking speculation that he may be following in the footsteps of Chimurenga music legend Thomas Mapfumo, who famously rejected Chivhayo’s past offers.

Chivhayo had previously extended an extravagant gesture to Mapfumo, offering the celebrated musician a furnished house, a Toyota Land Cruiser, and US$100,000 in cash. The “Mamvemve” hitmaker, however, publicly rebuked the businessman for invoking his name in the process.

“Hello Wicknell, let me tell you, please stop soiling my name,” Mapfumo, affectionately known as Mukanya, said in response to Chivhayo’s overtures.

“If what you think you are doing is good, go ahead without involving my name. Don’t soil my name by talking nonsense about me. I don’t know you and have never met you. Just leave my name alone. Don’t involve me in your dealings,” added Mukanya.

Zhakata now seems to have taken a similar stance, at least for the time being. More than 24 hours after the announcement of Chivhayo’s gift, the Zora star has yet to make an appearance to claim the vehicle.

At the height of his career in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Zhakata released a string of socially conscious hits, including Hodho, Mubikira, and the iconic Mugove, which resonated with the struggles of the working class. His music often highlighted the plight of ordinary Zimbabweans grappling with economic hardships, earning him a reputation as a voice of the oppressed.

The recent offer from Chivhayo has cast a shadow over Zhakata’s legacy, with critics questioning whether the acceptance of such a gift would align with his principled image. For now, the Zora maestro remains silent, leaving the public to wonder whether he will ultimately accept or decline the controversial businessman’s overture.