TONGAI “Dehwa” Moyo, one of celebrated Sungura icons, has revealed to the nation that he has Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, an upper cavity cancer that is threatening his life and career. Congratulations Dehwa for leading the way and dealing the rumor-mill a sucker punch.
The cancer was precipitated by over-exposure to tobacco smoke for a non-smoker whose work base is the club circuit. What occupational hazard! We also see why Moyo who turns 40 soon says he intends to take early exit from showbiz, the kind of talk we expect from our fellow compatriot who has had encounter with excruciating pain. We bear with Tongai for all time sake.
Some questions beg answers here, though. Why do Zim artistes do shows 247 and how does this affect the quality of their work, let alone their health? Are some of these near disasters foreseen or unforeseen?
Few of us have thought about health as a big victim of the hefty workload on the Sungura guys’ necks. Dhewa and others must be quietly aware of the constant threat of malaria, virulent viruses and electrical fires in the mostly sticky, stinky and stuffy township joints that light up city life.
Yet quitting is not best for Dhewa; all the big man ought to drop is the norm of incessant shows that come like this summer’s flash floods, map up strategy for change and get on with it. A few well planned shows laced with lush choreography in spacious, well ventilated venues will earn Dhewa and Utakataka Express even more income, that’s working smart. Koffie Olomide , the Rhumba great, prepares for concerts 3months in advance and fills stadia. Go Dhewa go!
To the feud now; for the sake of human life, the senseless war between Macheso and Dhewa fanned from whatever angle is henceforth deemed immoral.
A section of fans have for a long time said utterances which nibbled at Dhewa’s confidence, talk like Tongai shows off as heard on song and seen on video. Crap! He shows off because he is a show man. Why should he present himself methodical, he is no scientist; or line up his argument to convince anyone, he is no lawyer. The artiste in him should surprise us with unhindered expression. There is no questioning why Tengenenge’s Bloemfield keeps beard which covers his eyes, ears and nose, it’s his view of the world which should awe the ordinary. Let’s learn to pamper our own and not keep hyping on the exploits of the likes of Puffy Sean Combs, Kanye West and Pamela Anderson.
Now is the time for musicians, fans, the media and promoters to lend support to Dhewa, a great entertainer of our time to speed up his convalescence from cancer chemotherapy.
Go Tongai go, we like your personal brand! Life begins at forty.
READER OPINIONS
tatenda lincoln chidau • tlchidau@gmail.co.za Subject: too many haterz in zim Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:59:35 • please zim people give the guy all ur support,wassup wit the pull him down syndrome i guess thus why most of u still work for others people's companies .cant u learn to be self sustainable.. u all went to school to learn so u can do stuff for urself not for u to wait that boss X is gonna employ u..lets pull up our stockings
Clara • ciara_8@live.co.uk Subject: munei nazvo Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:00:53 • Kuti anechirwere kana haana zvinei nemi?The problem nesu maZimbo is that we always want to analyse other peoples lives muchisiya kugadzira hwenyu.Siyanai NaDhewa akadaro. Everyone is either infected or affected by this pandemic so don't try to be smart and point your finger at others tmrw it might be you. When will pple start minding their own lives. Food For Thot.
mukuru • mukuru@lycos.co.uk Subject: showman Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:06:44 • Illness aside, this man is no great artiste. I hope he does heal, no one wishes bad on him. I don't even know why he's spoken of in the same breath as one Aliki Macheso. Dhewa has been a chancer all his life, I think he has more than 13 albums which no one can even name. Macheso takes his time and does things to perfection. One needed to have been at the Zimbabwe Grounds last month to watch the Journalists v Musicians game. Every touch by Macheso was greeted with huge cheers and chants - 'Musatyore Cheso uyo, vanhu vekwaDhewa munonetsa.' When he scored, the match was stopped for 20 minutes due to crowd celebrations. Dhewa, Muchina Mudiki.
Innocent • imdndennda Subject: dehwa muchina muhombe Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:32:17 • I really surprised by our journalist chese shaitwa na Dehwa manyora zvisirizvo. Please i am a fan of Dehwa he is ill that it are you Doctors guys you want to know how he get cancer.
angry fan of Dehwa
Hastings Banda • bandah@yahoo.co.uk Subject: Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:05:32 • While i sympathise with the Dhewa , i want to ask the writer a few questions. What does he mean by 'upper cavity' ? Most of the pple who smoke end up with lung cancer or upper respiratory tract cancer, does Tongai smoke ? I dont dispute that u can get cancer by passive smoking . A number of primary diseases have increased incidence of subsequently developing non -Hodgkins lymphoma so Dhewa should seek medical help and only resume if he gets fit.We need responsible and uducative writing not just praise-singing.
l .bh • libezhmataz2....... Subject: dhewa Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:22:42 • only aids
baba tyra • juniorlecturer@cooltoad.com Subject: tisanyeperane Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:37:38 • i strongly agree with vamwevakuru. opinion or no opinion, Esau's sentiments smack of a senseless emotional affirnity for Dhewa and this should not go unchecked. its a also wrong for you itai to dismiss these concerns by your readership. give the young man (or old man if he is that) some basic journo tips. you are serving this dish for your readership and as them, we expect certain standards and not some pieces of badly written praise poetry lauding Dhewa on whatever pretexts, which also smack of emotionally charged defense praises for Dhewa and which, sadly, are packaged in substandard language likle some Chinese made movie subtittles. We want standards and standards we must get. Dont be a Nigerian styled 'anything goes' publication. You have faces and any self respecting person would want to save it. I hope dearest Itai that you do too. Its a bad opinion and if it can not be improved by him, a replacement is a good option or scrap it off. We will be served with good and balanced opinions and not some kind of kindergarten hogwash. Dhewa murwere and Mabhebhi anoawanza. Cancer , AIDS or whatever, the thruth will come out.
Vamwe Vakuru • vamwevakuru@gmail.com Subject: This is NOT Journalism Wed, 06 Feb 2008 06:25:25 • I am all for pampering our own and all that BUT this kind of journalism should not be allowed. I mean, there is a difference between a PR exercise and a journo's piece. And I am no journo at all but that much I know. Mukoma Esau, there are standards. Even the English is well below par. Don't turn this into a Nigerian paper where everything goes.
Journo • N/A Subject: Story? Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:18:20 • Esau Nyambiya, what is this?A praise song about Dhewa,a poem about him or story?Phew,if this is what you call journalism,no ways bro,am embarrassed on your behalf.Itai,you also allowed it?And you paid or will pay him money for such crap?There was indeed a story-Dhewa has clarified his illness but hey bro,you sang too much or is it coz Dhewa is a musician?And,didnt he clarify this issue in Herald´s gossip column a little bit of sometime ago?
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RESPONSE FROM THE EDITOR
Esau has never claimed to be a journo and this is his column where he expresses his own opinion. Unfortunately, not everyone can be served by an opinion. Esau has the right to feel the way he does about Dhewa and this is the essence of his column.
Many thanks.
Editor
n/a • n/a Subject: you are a **** Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:01:19 • what kind of journalism is this? You take Dehwa's word that he has blah blah blah type of cancer? Ko pane akambobuda pachena kuti aneAIDS here? As much as these are rumours and Zimbabwe is known for rumours regarding musicians and other celebrities, how come you so easily accept this and furthermore want us to accept it. SO just because he told you so and just because you told us so it becomes truth? Obviously whatever is affecting him is of grave concern so whether it be AIDS or cancer, we sympathise with him but don't patronise your readership. Time will tell and if he is lying you will be the last to come out and admit you misled the readers.
Editor, can you do a topic on the propensity of journalists to betray their trade and ethics in carrying out publicity stuns for people. This reporter has clearly been paid to do some damage assesment and his piece is not very convincing. Dehwa dzoserwa mari yako.
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