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This was after he had been disowned by his grandparents as they could not cope with his needs as a visually impaired child.
Velaphi, who is popularly known as VG, is a gospel musician and he has three albums under his belt.
In Bulawayo Velaphi has held numerous concerts with different gospel musicians who include Asaph Kudita, Prudence Mabhena and Eric Moyo.
When Gumbo was disowned by his family he never despaired, but soldiered on and later met his soul mate Sifiso Gumbo.
Saturday Leisure caught up with Sifiso who was happy to narrate how she fell in love with Velaphi.
In an interview, Sifiso said she met Velaphi while they were in Kezi for a concert.
“I first met my husband when we were in Kezi during a church concert. He proposed, but I turned him down as I was not interested at all,” she said.
Sifiso said before the end of the concert they exchanged contacts with Velaphi, but she never considered taking him as her husband.
“We really got along with Velaphi, but on love matters I was not interested at all.
“Soon after the concert where I was backing Velaphi, I left for my rural home in Nkayi,” she said.
Sifiso said she later decided to communicate with Velaphi after three months as she had his phone number.
“I remember going to those old call boxes in Nkayi to call Velaphi and by then I felt it was high time I told him how I felt.
“At first he could not believe it when I told him that I was in love with him,” she said.
Sifiso said soon after having told Velaphi how she felt about him he visited her in Nkayi.
“I could not believe it at first when Velaphi travelled all the way from Solusi to Nkayi only to see me,” she said.
Sifiso said she broke into tears when Velaphi told her his sad story of being disowned by his grandparents.
“We then quickly started arranging our marriage,” she said.
Sifiso said Velaphi started having shows in South Africa and Botswana.
“He went to different countries holding shows to raise funds for my lobola and in December, we had our white wedding,” she said.
Sifiso said they were happily married and they have two children.
“We live on music with my husband and we are a happy family.
“My husband is taking care of us through shows that he holds in different places,” she said.
On the other hand Velaphi said when Sifiso accepted his proposal, he could not believe it considering that he was visually impaired.
“When Sifiso accepted my proposal, I was more than happy considering that she had accepted me for being who I am,” he said.
Velaphi said Sifiso was the most important person in his life considering that he was disowned by his parents.
“I do not know where I would have been if Sifiso had not accepted my proposal.
“She helps me in a lot of things and at times we perform at different shows together,” he said.
Online Reporter