Journo dragged out of Mtukudzi-Macheso show

A UK journalist, Mkhululi Mpofu, was physically dragged out of the just ended Mtukudzi-Macheso show in Leicester after allegedly invading Oliver Mtukudzi's dressing room with a 'smuggled camera', according to function promoters.

Mpofu who has not denied entering the back stage area where Mtukudzi was resting, has defended himself saying the attack was unprovoked and also added that in front of onlookers, he was choked, kicked and punched in what he described as a brutal assault he even thought he had died.

Below was Mkhululi Mpofu short account of what transpired, which report has been disputed by both function organisers and Oliver Mtukudzi's team:

"ONE of the promoters of the Oliver Mtukudzi and Alick Macheso United Kingdom tour has been arrested by British police in Leicester after he brutally attacked me during the show last night for no apparent reason.

I was attacked in full view of co-promoters who never tried to rescue me from the monster.

The overzealous promoter was immediately arrested by police in the early hours of Sunday morning at the venue of the show, Leicester's Athena. He was detained overnight and is still wallowing in the police cells.

The heavy built and weight-lifting promoter is being held at Mansfield House Police station, Leicester.

Police said they will interview my assailant this morning and he is expected to be formerly charged. I am pressing charges of assault and theft of my camera. I have already presented a full statement to the police.

Trouble started while Tuku and Macheso entertained the excited crowd when the chubby promoter approached me and started attacking me with blows. He then dragged me out of the venue despite having paid to enter the venue and continued attacking me.

He confiscated The ZimDiaspora camera and footage was lost during the process. Some equipment was also damaged during the fracas.

In a completely unprovoked attack, he grabbed me by my throat, squeezing and kicking me at the same time. It was the most savage attack I have ever experienced in my life.

As several other media personnel were filming what is rumoured to be Tuku's last world tour, the notorious promoter was busy body-punching and choking me. After being dragged outside by the collar, he pushed me into a secluded ditch, pressed me down and continued kicking, punching and choking me to the extent that I thought I would die.

As I struggled for my breath, I tried ringing the emergency services, he then grabbed my mobile phone and flung it across the street, smashing the iPhone into smatterings.

It was only after a loud scream that a passerby came to my rescue and the police were immediately called who subsequently arrested the vicious promoter.

It is unfortunate that while most of Zimbabwean shows in the UK are very peaceful there are some people who still think that it is their privilege as promoters to go about assaulting and duping fans as they wish.

The behaviour of the promoter is unwarranted and risk tarnishing the image of one of Africa's greatest musicians Oliver Mtukudzi."

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