adminMISS Grand Zimbabwe licence holder and businessman, Chris Vukani Mhlanga (CVM) and former Miss Tourism Zimbabwe 2010 – Samantha Tshuma, have called their relationship quits.
This development comes after months of speculation about their split as on several instances it has been alleged that Mhlanga was abusive.
Mhlanga confirmed to Sunday Leisure senior reporter, Peter Matika (PM) on a one on one and no holds barred chat about the “well” publicised relationship.
Below are excerpts of the interview.
PM: People have been and want to know the state of your relationship with Samantha since the last story, which was carried out in this publication, where you were accused of several issues.
CVM: Let me start off by saying I have started to love rumours, I am now getting to discover things I didn’t even know about myself. Anyway the theme music to this affair that has taken up so much public interest has stopped. I am no longer a part of Samantha’s life. It has taken probably over a month of consultations and family mediation for me to subdue to the fact that when a relationship of over three years goes so public and no longer derives pleasure and happiness it therefore becomes worthless to compromise on pain.
PM: How is it that you are being intrigued by rumours and perhaps an issue that has not really been spoken about – your daughter?
CVM: Most of these allegations that I read about are really interesting. The part that has obviously not been addressed as a matter of concern is of April.
The fact that there is April, I don’t deny fathering April and in fact it was through April’s mother (Samantha)’s request and an amicable agreement thereafter that led us to have her. It is, however, saddening that after we made such a life altering agreement, April’s mother has communicated to me through family mediators of her unhappiness with me, citing several reasons but one particular disturbing one is the allegation that I am abusive.
PM: Are you abusive and how best would you respond to these allegations?
CVM: I can bravely say the national laws here give protection to women and in the last three years of dating I challenge any public office with a record of her allegations. I think as per previously published e-mail, my position as the head of my family was comprehensively elaborated, I will therefore not take anything less from anybody looking to be in a lifetime commitment with me.
PM: So how are your other children taking the split, perhaps they may have got accustomed to having Samantha as a mother to them?
CVM: To many people’s surprise, April’s mother has not been introduced to anybody from the Mhlanga family. It was only one Friday and it was by coincidence that my daughter Zoleka got to meet April on her way to the baby clinic.
PM: Why is there such a situation and how do you plan on solving it?
CVM: As I have mentioned before, we are a cultured family and have held back hoping that at some point April’s mother would (as initially planned) unite my daughters to complete what was meant to be, my immediate family. This has not happened and hereon I have decided it will not happen and my family and daughters stand by me in this decision. As things stand now it wasn’t of my interest to let in the public into the issue. However, because of the demeaning publicity I have received it is only fair that both as a parent and a professional I clarify my position. I would like to go through every single detail that was supplied by this so-called family source because those people don’t know me.
PM: What exactly would you like to clarify and what allegations are these?
CVM: In response to the stealing of opportunities and so forth, I would like to say … If you do not build your own dream, someone will hire you to help build their dream. Should a business opportunity be presented to anybody with the capacity there would never be a need to drill someone in. My involvement in most projects is a clear indication of my accreditation and as a businessman; I will not allow an opportunity to slip through my fingers. Hereon regardless of the allegations in this particular case with reference to beauty pageants and public perception I regard myself as an international agent and I will note that I am introducing two more international pageant licences under my directorship.
This will allow me to send a delegate (if a suitable candidate is found), as early as December 2014.
PM: So is pageantry one of your core-businesses, how beneficial and influential is it? Also perhaps where do you want to see this industry go in the next few years?
CVM: I think that demonstrates my ability to hold the national directorship post in this industry, regardless of a few unknowledgeable individuals. For people’s own information I did not rise up to this industry recently. It dates as far back as 2000 when most of the current beauty queens were between Grade Zero and 3. That is when I fathered my first daughter Crystal from a renowned supermodel Nontsikelelo Zulu. She was affiliated to KAIZ Modelling International in South Africa.
I wish local models and managers, instead of biting my head off could then use me as a stepping stone to go international. I have the capacity and hold the position. So those that want to remain local will remain local and those that want to go international have me as their gateway.
PM: Interesting. How do you respond to allegations where you have being accused of being an opportunist and conman?
CVM: I have taken it as a norm to look and smell good because I can. The source that said that is very mixed up, I own more than 80 pairs of shoes and have a wardrobe full of designer labels. I work for that, if that comes from scrounging then I am good at it. These people surely don’t know me.
PM: Thank you for your time and wish you well in the future.
Bongani Ndlovu