Harare – The ongoing paternity saga surrounding Aaron Chaka who claims to be the late music legend Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi’s son, has taken yet another twist, this time an economic one.
Chaka, who pulled a shocker by telling the infamous Closure DNA Show host, Tinashe Mugabe, to stay away from their (Mtukudzi’s) family affairs, is now reportedly demanding payment upfront if one wants to talk to him about the issue in question.
According to H-Metro, Chaka has started demanding payment from journalists in return for answering their questions about his ongoing Mtukudzi paternity saga. Understandably, this has tarnished perceptions of his pursuit for acknowledgement as Tuku’s offspring, leading several to interrogate his real aims and imply profit represents higher priority than kinship.
“What we don’t understand is why Aaron suddenly believes that he should be making some money out of his quest to be recognised as Tuku’s son. That’s what he told us, when we approached him for a comment in the wake of the setback he suffered in the High Court, as he demanded to know how much we will pay him for the interview,” H-Metro said in an editorial statement.
The publication went on to voice dissatisfaction with Chaka’s actions, arguing that his demand for payment sullies his quest for recognition and portrays him as a gold digger.
“He is the one who needs to be engaging the media to tell his story and we don’t understand why we should be paying him for telling his story. Aaron is messing up his case and soiling his image at a time when he requires the sympathy of many. He should not portray himself as a gold digger but just as a child who wants to be united with his clan,” the editorial concluded.
Chaka’s efforts to officially change his surname from Chaka to Mtukudzi and be recognised the government of Zimbabwe the late celebrated musician’s son has been met with mixed feelings. While some empathise with his presumed situation, others like Daisy remain doubtful. As Tuku’s widow, she fiercely denies Chaka’s claims and demands DNA tests to settle the issue once and for all.
“Where was he all along? Why has he all of a sudden decided to come forward and claim to be my husband’s son? What is his real motive?” Daisy Mtukudzi asked, during an interview with The Sunday Mail.
Mtukudzi’s widow insists a DNA test with one of Tuku’s relatives is the only way forward that will bring the matter to rest. “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.
Chaka has long been hesitant to undertake a DNA evaluation, arguing that it defies his cultural traditions.
“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,” he said in a previous interview.
Chaka’s quest to officially assume the surname Mtukudzi and claim his rightful place as Tuku’s son, last week hit a brickwall after the High Court dismissed his petition. The court’s ruling, delivered by Justice Fatima Chakapamambo Maxwell, is founded on a series of discrepancies in Chaka’s assertions and the lack of concrete evidence, culminating in a demand for a paternity assessment.
Quoting the Registrar-General’s concerns regarding whi the RG’s office tefused in the first place to alter Chaka’s surname and paternal details, the court’s judgment emphasized the need for “tangible evidence” such as results for DNA tests to back Chaka’s claim that he is indeed Tuku’s son. The High Court’s demand for a paternity test has left Chaka and the Mtukudzi family at loggerheads as some want the DNA tests done while others like Chaka have vowed never to do that.
