SETBACK FOR ‘LOVE CHILD’ QUEST TO BECOME A MTUKUDZI

“The mother of the child on the birth certificate is given as Rose Kasaki. No affidavit confirmed that Rose Makumbe is the same person as Rose Kasaki. The affidavits confirming a relationship between the late Oliver Mtukudzi and Rose Makumbe are, therefore, not relevant where the mother of the child is given as Rose Kasaki.” — Justice Fatima Chakapamambo Maxwell

Prince Mushawevato

AARON CHAKA’s bid to change his surname to Mtukudzi, claiming he is the late music superstar Oliver Mtukudzi’s love child, has hit a snag after the High Court dismissed his application, citing a number of anomalies and the need for a paternity test.

Rose Makumbe (69), Aaron’s mother, publicly claimed recently that Mtukudzi was her son’s biological father.

Doubts over Aaron’s paternity, which threatened to split the late musician’s family, still persist.

In a case heard by Justice Fatima Chakapamambo Maxwell recently, Aaron sought an order directing the first respondent — the Registrar of Births and Deaths — to alter the surname appearing on his birth certificate to Mtukudzi and delete the particulars of his father and replace them with those of Mtukudzi.

The registrar opposed the application, pointing out that the relief sought by Aaron was actually the cancellation of the birth certificate and re-registration of the document.

The 45-year-old Aaron was challenged to “satisfy the requirements for cancellation and re-registration” of his birth certificate.

This included producing the late Tuku’s death certificate and affidavits from Josiah Chaka’s relatives confirming that he (Josiah) is not the applicant’s biological father. The registrar further requested a paternity test.

“Wherefore, I pray that the applicant produces more concrete evidence in the form of a paternity test and authentic affidavits to prove that indeed the late Oliver Mtukudzi is his biological father, and not Josiah Chaka,” said the Registrar of Births and Deaths.

The demands were granted by the court.

“Because of the anomalies in applicant’s papers, the request by the first respondent provides the way forward for the applicant.

“Once applicant obtains scientific confirmation that the late Oliver Mtukudzi is his biological father, he can approach the Registrar-General in terms of Section 8 of (Chapter 5:02), which provides for the correction of an error of fact or substance in the register.

“Applicant was, therefore, improperly before this court. The application is, therefore, struck off the roll with no order as to costs,” said Justice Maxwell.

Anomalies

Among the discrepancies noted by the court were inconsistencies in Aaron’s claims.

For instance, he stated that his birth certificate was obtained to enable him to go to school when he became “ripe to start schooling”, which was not the case.

“I am alive to the fact that in the 1980s, when the applicant would have started schooling, children were enrolled at between six or seven years of age.

“It would have followed that the birth certificate would have been obtained in the 80s if it was to facilitate the applicant’s schooling,” said Justice Maxwell.

“The papers before the court tell a different story. The birth was registered on October 4, 1979, the same year the applicant was born, exactly nine months after his birth. However, the birth certificate was obtained on November 4, 2005.”

Around that time, Aaron claims he had been informed that Josiah was not his biological father.

“Several issues arise on the birth certificate. To start with, it was obtained after the applicant had been informed of his biological father at the age of 25, as he alleged. Secondly, at 26 years old, the purpose of the birth certificate cannot be said to help him get access to education,” Justice Maxwell said.

The name of Aaron’s mother in the court application differs from the one on his birth certificate.

“The mother of the child on the birth certificate is given as Rose Kasaki. No affidavit confirmed that Rose Makumbe is the same person as Rose Kasaki. The affidavits confirming a relationship between the late Oliver Mtukudzi and Rose Makumbe are, therefore, not relevant where the mother of the child is given as Rose Kasaki,” said Justice Maxwell.

Attack

Tuku’s widow Daisy Mtukudzi came out guns blazing, accusing Aaron of being an imposter in an article we published on May 19, 2024 titled “Tuku’s ‘love child’ tears family apart”.

“Where was he all along? Why has he all of a sudden decided to come forward claiming to be my husband’s son? What is his real motive?” a visibly irritated Daisy said in an interview with The Sunday Mail Entertainment.

She even challenged Aaron to undergo a DNA test, which he was reluctant to do.

“There are plenty of Tuku’s blood relatives around. He (Aaron) should choose one to go with for DNA tests so that the world knows the truth, but I know he is lying through his teeth,” she said.

Aaron was not clear on his way forward after the dismissal of his case by the court.

He promised to visit The Sunday Mail Entertaiment offices for an interview, but failed to do so by the time of going to print.

“The problem is muri kudya mari mega (you are financially benefitting) from my stories. I should be getting something out of this. ZTN also called me; they want my interview.

“The issue at hand cannot be discussed over the phone. Let me come there. I will consult my manager, then come and see you,” said Aaron over the phone.

In May, Aaron told this publication in an interview that he had been accepted by several Mtukudzi family members, hence his reluctance to take a DNA test.

“The family has already welcomed me,” he said then.

“I will never make myself available for DNA testing, even if Tinashe Mugabe offers to do it for free. Besides, this is against our tradition. Traditionally, we did not do DNA tests; why now? Tinashe (Mugabe) has since been warned by our elders not to meddle in our family affairs. Family elders are confident because my late father introduced me to them.”

Godfrey Mukonowenzou Mtukudzi, the late Tuku’s younger brother, is one of the family members who has been supporting Aaron’s bid at the courts.

Efforts to get a comment from him after the recent developments were in vain as his phone went unanswered.

He previously told The Sunday Mail Entertainment: “I have known Aaron since his birth in 1979. Mukoma Tuku was in a naughty relationship with Rosie Makumbe when he was still in Highfield.

“When she became pregnant, he transferred her to Gweru so that the news did not spread. He did not want his wife and friend Jack Sadza to find out.

“Rosie was Jack’s sister. When Aaron was born, he used to take care of them and provided everything needed.”

Trend

Tuku succumbed to diabetes on January 23, 2019 and was declared a national hero. After his demise, the Mtukudzi family was inundated with calls from people claiming to be the late singer’s offsprings, with some of them even keen on taking DNA tests.

At least four children emerged soon after the legendary singer’s death.

Of the four, two were male, all from different mothers.

Prior to this, The Sunday Mail Entertainment exclusively revealed in 2010 that the musician had another son, Selby, but the family vehemently denied paternity.

Selby’s tale was later corroborated by journalist and Tuku’s former publicist Shepherd Mutamba in his biography “Tuku Backstage”.

The late singer’s official children are Sandra, Selmor, Samantha, Sybil and the late Sam. Tuku’s widow is the sole beneficiary of the estate after a law firm filed a will indicating Daisy Kudzai Mtukudzi was to inherit all movable and immovable property.

The major immovable asset the family has is the Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton, while movable property includes several vehicles, among them a Land Rover Discovery with personalised number plates.