Online Reporter
Trust Khosa,
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
SUNGURA musician Gift “Case” Amuli has been arrested for calling fellow musician First Farai a THIEF on various social media sites.
Amuli used social media to attack First Farai, the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association vice-chairperson, and this has now landed him in trouble.
He is being accused of cyberbullying.
Amuli, who dubbed First Farai a thief on various occasions on social media platforms, was arrested yesterday during a ZIMURA workshop in Harare.
On several occasions, Amuli questioned Farai Farai’s integrity, and accused him of allegedly stealing condolence money intended for the late Cephas “Motomuzhinji” Mashakada in 2011.
The allegations were first raised by Hosiah Chipanga.
First Farai has repeatedly refuted these claims.
After weeks of being publicly ridiculed by Amuli, First Farai filed a complaint with the police.
It led to the arrest of Amuli.
Ironically, one of Amuli’s hit songs is called “Wamatuka.”
National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed yesterday that Amuli was arrested and was being interviewed over allegations of cyberbullying.
“I can confirm the arrest of Gift Amuli over cyberbullying, specifically regarding Farai Batani.
“He is assisting the police with investigations and we will keep you posted on the developments,” he said.
Comm Nyathi urged people to find better ways of resolving their differences without bullying each other.
“We urge people to find amicable solutions to their disagreements without resorting to social media.
“People should not engage in cyberbullying when they have disagreements.”
First Farai, who has been on the receiving end of a flurry of accusations in the past few months, confirmed that he reported the case in his personal capacity after Amuli dragged his name into the controversy.
“I reached a point where I realised that the attacks were too much and there was a need to address this by reporting him for cyberbullying,” he said.
“This was not a ZIMURA board case but I reported it in my own personal capacity.
“The police had been looking for him, but he was playing cat-and-mouse.
“It was only on Wednesday (yesterday) that he was arrested at the Zimbabwe College of Music while we were holding our workshop with our members.”
First Farai, who is also a sungura musician with over 20 years in the industry, added:
“To be honest, I don’t have bad blood against Amuli, and I consider him a brother.
“I have been patient over the past months while he was calling me a thief on social media.
“My family was also worried and I realised that the best way to handle the issue was by taking this legal route in my own personal capacity,” he added.
The internal conflicts within ZIMURA have been going on for some time and escalated following the sale of two of the association’s flats in Harare.
This led to animosity within the association, resulting in three board members – Joseph Gararakara, Amuli and Derreck Mpofu – being fired.
It took the intervention of the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to help resolve the matter.
The warring parties were advised to iron out their differences amicably for the benefit of the music industry.
Mathew Masinge