Eight months after the tragic death of sungura musician Tatenda Pinjisi, his widow, Mellisa Chikuti, has revealed a distressing ordeal. While still grieving the loss of her husband, Chikuti says she is being besieged by men disguising themselves as “Good Samaritans,” whose true intentions are far from charitable – they are seeking to sexually rave her big time – an encounter street lingo refers to as ‘kumubvisa ngura’.
Pinjisi, a torchbearer of “soft” sungura genre, died on April 10th in a road accident just past the Norton tollgate, around 7 pm. He was en route to a performance in Kadoma. The accident also claimed the lives of three other passengers. He was 33 years old.
Chikuti, aged 31, described her late husband as not only a creative genius but also a devoted family man. In an interview, she expressed the immense challenges she faces in raising their five children without Pinjisi’s support.
“It’s now been eight months since my husband’s death and I would be lying if I said I have healed,” Chikuti stated. “Pinjisi was the breadwinner of our family, who loved all his children equally and treated me like a queen.”
The widow explained that these men approach her, feigning a desire to alleviate the burden she has carried since her husband’s untimely passing. However, their actions quickly reveal their ulterior motives.
“We face a lot of challenges as widows,” Chikuti lamented. “I am still mourning, and my children are also still mourning. When you see me drowning in tears, as I mourn, I will be appealing for your genuine help.”
She continued, “Munhu anouya achida kukubatsira, mukubatsira imomo, akutotaura zverudo, handisati ndapedza kupukuta misodzi, zvichiri padhuze kufunga Tatenda.”
Chikuti expressed her disappointment and frustration, stating, “Asi ndongoti vanhu vaMwari ndongo kumbira zvangu rubatsiro netsigiro yenyu kune vari genuine kwete kune vane zvavari kutsvaga pandiri.”
She further elaborated on the age range and behaviour of these unwelcome suitors. “These ‘God Samaritans’ are from the age of 30-40 years. Some propose love after helping me, and some propose love even before delivering the donations. So, I am just cutting communication from such temptations.”
Chikuti voiced her confusion and distress, questioning the motives of these individuals. “I do not know why some of these so-called ‘Good Samaritans’ come voluntarily, saying they are willing to help me as a widow, yet surprisingly, what they end up demanding is something else.”
She emphasised her need for genuine support during this difficult time. “I am a widow who is still mourning. We need people who want to genuinely help, who want to assist us as a family that is still mourning.”
Chikuti reflected on the dreams she and Pinjisi shared for their family, dreams now overshadowed by grief. “To be honest, we had great plans as a young couple. He had two children from a previous relationship and three with me, but we treated them all equally, which I continue to do. Having kids around us and making them happy from our hustles was fun but now that I am alone as the bread-winner, it can never be the same again but we keep trying.”
“His death has left me nursing this wound and every time I look at our children, I am reminded of him more than ever. I feel as if he will come back and it’s hard to accept that it has been six months without him. He left behind a young family that looked up to him, the oldest is 12 years old, and the youngest is just over one year four months,” she added.
Despite her sorrow, Chikuti is determined to provide for her children. She revealed that Pinjisi had been assisting her at her workshop, where she designs and manufactures school uniforms for learners in the Jumbo area of downtown Harare. “Before he died, he helped me at the workshop where I specialise in designing and manufacturing school uniforms for learners in the Jumbo area of downtown Harare. He was skilled with the sewing machine and excelled in marketing our uniforms, thanks to his well-known presence and large fan base.”
Chikuti, who has generally maintained a low profile, noted that many people only became aware of her existence at Pinjisi’s funeral. “I have always been someone who doesn’t brag about my life or the people I know. It’s only now that people have realised I am Pinjisi’s widow, and many are showing me more respect.”
As a young widow with the responsibility of caring for five children, Chikuti has made a heartfelt appeal for assistance to bolster her business. “It’s not easy being a widow at my age, as some people don’t respect us. However, we are just as normal and good as anyone else. I am asking for capital from well-wishers to help expand my business; I am not a lazy woman. With financial support, I believe I can grow my business and become one of the leading school uniform suppliers in Zimbabwe and beyond.”
She expressed her desire to honour her late husband’s memory by reviving his musical group. She has requested guitarist Kamurungu, a survivor of the accident that claimed Pinjisi’s life, to teach her 11-year-old son how to play the guitar. Additionally, she believes that acquiring a sewing machine would significantly alleviate the challenges she currently faces.
Reflecting on her relationship with Pinjisi, Chikuti shared, “One of our biggest plans was to establish our own factory to supply uniforms, care for our children, and, of course, for ourselves. Loving each other was a priority for us, like any other couple, and I am still in shock that he died before we could achieve our dreams.”
“To be honest, I still miss him. He was a loving and caring husband, full of respect for me and love for everyone. He was always jovial and in a good mood,” Chikuti concluded.
In a gesture of solidarity, Chikuti also extended her condolences to Amai Nicholas Zakaria and Baba Alick Macheso following the passing of Madzibaba. “I would like to pay my condolences to Amai Nicholas Zakaria and Baba Alick Macheso after the death of our father Madzibaba. The unexpected death of my dearest Tatenda Pinjisi Kahwa is still so painful but I am gradually getting relieved by your continuous support.”
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