Tongai Moyo Dhewa’s Christmas wish

Although Tongai Moyo's death in October ranks amongst the darkest periods in Zimbabwe this year, his family has revealed that all Dhewa wanted was to spend this Christmas at his newly built house in Mbizo.

His mother, Mbuya Chihera, and his surviving spouse, Miniehle Mukweli, said Dhewa had moved at a fast pace to build his house while he was on his death bed because he hoped to live in it by the end of this year.

The Utakataka frontman succumbed to Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer, on October 15 this year, after a six-year battle. Though he had been sick for the better part of this year, spending more nights in hospital than with his family at home, it seems the Samanyemba hitmaker had not given up on life.

A day before he passed he sent a message to Cosmas Daka, one his friends, saying: "Almost lost my life zuro (yesterday) but the devil was defeated.

"By the grace of God I have improved. I have so much faith that one day I will be OK. Tinosvika chete (We will get there). Thanks for your help baba, I know you love me Cossy."

Dhewa's mother said although he had been in great pain, he had not lost hope of living.

Said Mbuya Chihera: "My son suffered unbearable pain in his last days. But all the same you could see on his face that he wanted to live. If the pain that one suffers on this earth means that his sins are forgiven, then my son should be in a better place."

She added that this Christmas was going to be special for the family as he had made plans to have a family get-together.

Miniehle concurred that the late singer had made plans that actually went beyond Christmas.

"He wanted to be closer to his God. He said he had been saved and was praying more in his last days. This Christmas was going to be so different with the way he had put his trust in God," said Miniehle.

She, however, revealed that the family was not going to be able to live in the house because there are some few things that still need attention.

"The biggest challenge we have been facing has been to secure funds to finish the house as most of the money had been used in clearing some debts, but we are hoping that everything will be put in place soon," she said.

She could not, however, divulge where they will be getting the money.

It is also clear that this Christmas is not going to be the same for some of the late Dhewa's fans. One avid fan of the late musician, Felix Shava, says he spent the last four Christmases at Dhewa's shows.

"Even when he would play away from Harare I would follow him. I guess we now have to live with the fact that he is no more and be happy he left us his son Peter," he said.