Mapfumo's former manager clarifies UK tour disaster
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04 April 2008
I'm writing concerning the controversy over the Mapfumo tour. I drafted and
signed the contract as the manager although Thomas's son has that job now. I
feel responsible to set the record straight because I wrote the terms, which
were exquisitely simple.
The follow through on the simple contract I wrote was poorly executed by the
people taking care of Mukanya, and Thomas Mapfumo was within his rights
under the terms of this contract to refuse to play without at least 5000
pounds in hand.
Here is the letter I sent to New Zimbabwe, you can reference or print it in
response to their somewhat skewed figures:
Dear Editors,
The information printed about Thomas Mapfumo's contract with ZimTownship is
deeply flawed, inaccurate, and in some cases false. I caution you to check
your facts, which you have not done.
I was manager of Thomas Mapfumo when this contract was signed, I signed it
and drafted the language, which was plain. 10,000 pounds was owed in the UK
after the 10,000 deposit , of which 4200 was spent. 2500 after every show,
or before if we asked for it.
Thomas Mapfumo was to have received 2,500 pounds after the Ireland show. He
received nothing.
He was to have received 2500 pounds after the second show. He received
nothing.
He should have received the balance after the 4200 of advances, 800 pounds
at the third show. The last show he was paid already out of advances, had he
been paid for the others.
Cuthbert Chiromo is wrong when he swears the promoters figures are right.
The resultant dispute on the last night was not the fault of Thomas Mapfumo,
but the fault of the promoter and Cuthbert, who were mistaken in their
calculation of the fee owed and in how the payments should have been made.
Thomas was right that he had not been paid the full amount, and states that
he asked for only 5000 pounds before the last show in order to mitigate the
situation, instead of the full 5800 pounds owed. When he wasn't paid he
didn't play. I don't understand how it escalated so far, but if we don't get
paid, we don't play, fair is fair.
Please retract your article and get it right (ref to New Zimbabwe)
You can print this if you would like your readers to see the truth.
Al Green
Anonym Records
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