Thomas Mapfumo has reportedly broken his silence over his payment agreement with the late Wicknell Chivayo.
The legendary musician reportedly confirmed that he had not received the full US$500,000.
ZimEye reported the development on Friday, October 2, citing a phone conversation with Mapfumo.
The revelation comes days after Mapfumo returned to Zimbabwe for the highly publicised performance.
Mapfumo Says He Was Not Paid US$500,000
According to ZimEye, Mapfumo directly addressed claims about his payment during the conversation.
The musician reportedly confirmed that he had not received the full US$500,000.
His comments contradict reports claiming Chivayo had settled the performance fee in full.
The conflicting accounts have now created fresh questions around the agreement between the two men.
Chivayo had publicly pledged US$500,000 for Mapfumo’s performance at Jah Prayzah’s wedding.
He also reportedly agreed to another US$500,000 for a separate private event.
The two performances were therefore linked to a reported US$1 million arrangement.
Mapfumo eventually travelled from the United States to Zimbabwe ahead of the engagements.
Conflicting Reports Emerge After Chivayo’s Death
The payment dispute emerged shortly after Chivayo died in a helicopter crash.
His death occurred on September 30, shortly after Mapfumo arrived in Zimbabwe.
The timing has now placed their reported financial agreement under renewed scrutiny.
ZimEye’s account directly attributes the unpaid amount claim to Mapfumo.
However, another recent report quoted Mapfumo as saying he had been paid in full.
Therefore, the two accounts currently present conflicting versions of the payment situation.
The US$500,000 figure was originally publicised as Mapfumo’s fee for one performance.
Mapfumo’s latest reported comments could now intensify interest in the agreement.
For now, the precise amount already paid remains unclear from the conflicting public reports.
The post Thomas Mapfumo breaks silence on Wicknell Chivayo payment: ‘I Was Not Paid $500,000’ appeared first on iHarare News.
