By Marshall Bwanya
Harare – Late national hero and music icon Oliver Mutukudzi’s daughters, Sandra and Selmor, have opened up about a harrowing past marked by neglect, abuse, and favoritism at the hands of their stepmother, Daisy.
The ongoing family feud between Daisy and her step daughters Selmor and Sandra has tarnished the late icon’s legacy, raising questions about his ability to unite his family, despite his exceptional musical talent.
Perhaps, Shakespeare’s quote from the play Julius Caesar: “The evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interred with their bones” – aptly describes how the revelations of abuse have overshadowed Tuku’s positive contributions.
Sandra and Selmor, daughters from Mutukudzi’s first marriage with Melody Murape, shared their experiences in a recent interview with DJ Ollah 7 on his podcast.
The two siblings detailed a pattern of neglect, abuse, and favouritism within the Tuku household, which they believed Daisy engineered.
Sandra, the eldest daughter, recounted being treated as less than a family member, forced to share meals with the family pet and subjected to humiliating punishments.
“I would be told that I had to share the pot with the dog.
“We had a dog called Kwanai and while others were eating rice, I would be told that I would get my sadza from the same put as Kwanai,” Sandra narrated her tragic ordeal.
Sandra also recalled being regarded below the family maid in the pecking order.
“I remember the day we were told that we were going to a party. As children, we were excited at this but then the next day, we saw only Sam and Samantha preparing for the party,” she said.
“I, on the other hand, was given a heap of laundry I needed to do. We had a maid but somehow I felt I was below the maid.
“Even in the house, Sam and Samantha had their rooms that were well prepared but I shared one with the maid,” said Sandra narrating her upbringing.
“It was really painful and this is not just about the bedroom. It felt that I wasn’t appreciated or loved like the other children,” she added.
Sandra also shared an incident when she was 16 and returned home to an empty house after the family had moved without her knowledge.
“I remember an incident that happened when we lived in Kwekwe at a place called Glenwood. I was 16 turning 17 at that time,” she said recalling her upbringing.
“I knew my mum (step mum Daisy) and dad were building in Norton although I didn’t know that there was a house being built during that entire time.
“Everyone else knew about the house but I didn’t because I wasn’t supposed to know,” said Sandra.
“When the house was done, I remember they called people from church for a farewell.
That’s when I found out that they would be moving but I was not told the date when this would happen,” added Sandra.
Sandra also recalled a particular incident where people informed her that her father, who was constantly on tour, was in town, and she expected a family reunion, only to discover that the family had relocated without her.
“When I got there, the house was empty. I was so touched.
“People had gone to their new home and I was left with the garden boy in an empty home,” said Sandra.
Selmor, speaking about her initial omission at inaugural Oliver Mtukudzi International Festival of the Arts, brought back painful abuse episodes from her childhood.
“When I saw the flier for me it was painful.
“At the same time, I thought this is what they do every day. They just do these things on their own.
“Even as kids, we were always left behind.
“They would leave home with Samantha and Sam and go on holiday and we would be told to stay and look after the home,” sad Selmor.
The revelations shared by Mtukudzi’s daughters Sandra and Selmor have sparked discussions about the complexities of Tuku’s legacy and the challenges faced by children in blended families.
While Tuku’s music continues to inspire many, the dark side of his family life has cast a shadow on his image.
