Has Chivayo’s gifts united Selmor and Daisy Mtukudzi or it’s just a public appearance show off?
By Arts Reporter
Musician Selmor Mtukudzi has appeared publicly with her estranged stepmother Daisy Mtukudzi after controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo made their reconciliation a condition for collecting his lavish gifts.
Chivayo instructed Selmor to invite Daisy when collecting her brand-new US$68 000, 2026 Toyota Fortuner 2.4 GD-6 and US$20,000 for fuel. He separately promised Daisy US$20,000 for her personal upkeep. Videos shared on Thursday showed the two women together at Enterprise Car Sales, where they collected their gifts following years of highly publicised family conflict.
“Life is too short to hate one another and hold generational grudges,” Chivayo said when announcing the gifts. The businessman’s intervention effectively brought Selmor and Daisy together publicly, although it remains unclear whether they have resolved the painful disputes that divided the family or merely complied with the condition attached to the gifts.
Chivayo insists Selmor must bring Daisy Chivayo announced the gifts on September 4, approximately two weeks after Selmor posted a video defending his programme of donating cars and cash to musicians, religious leaders, footballers and other prominent figures. He thanked Selmor for supporting him and apologised for responding late to her message.
Chivayo also praised the musician for preserving the legacy of her late father, legendary musician Oliver Mtukudzi, while building an identity of her own “What I particularly admire is your determination to build your own identity while proudly carrying such a powerful family name,” he wrote.
“Following in the footsteps of a musical giant is never easy, but you have continued to demonstrate your own talent, confidence and passion.”
However, Chivayo attached a clear family-reconciliation request to the collection of the vehicle and cash.
“Please call and ask Mama Daisy to accompany you to see Madzibaba Chipaga together next week on Monday and collect your 2026 brand-new Toyota Fortuner 2.4 GD-6 that has now been fully paid for and is ready for collection, together with US$20,000 cash for fuel,” he said. “Mama Daisy will also get her 20 thousand USD for her personal upkeep.”
Selmor complied, resulting in the rare public appearance with Daisy at the vehicle dealership.
Why Selmor and Daisy fell out ?
The relationship between Daisy and Oliver’s daughters Selmor and Sandra Mtukudzi has been strained for years, with tensions becoming increasingly public following the legendary musician’s death in January 2019.
Disagreements emerged around Oliver’s estate, his musical legacy and the position of children from his earlier marriage to Melody Murape. Daisy was named as the principal beneficiary of Oliver’s estate under a will lodged after his death, a development that intensified divisions within the family.
The feud erupted publicly again in September 2024 after Selmor was initially excluded from the line-up for the Oliver Mtukudzi International Festival of the Arts at Pakare Paye. Following public pressure, Selmor was added to the programme, but the controversy reopened longstanding wounds within the family. Sisters made childhood-abuse allegations Selmor and Sandra subsequently appeared on the DJ Ollah 7 Podcast, where they made disturbing allegations about their treatment while growing up. In an interview with DJ Ollah on his podcast, Sandra and Selmor revealed some harrowing details about their upbringing in the Tuku household, where their mother Daisy ruled with an iron-fist. (
In an interview with DJ Ollah on his podcast, Sandra and Selmor revealed some harrowing details about their upbringing in the Tuku household, where their mother Daisy ruled with an iron-fist. The sisters accused Daisy of subjecting them to physical and emotional mistreatment whenever they visited their father’s home as children.
They described feeling unwanted and said the experiences left emotional wounds that continued into adulthood. Selmor became emotional while discussing what she regarded as her exclusion from her father’s life and, after his death, from parts of his musical legacy. The allegations were made by Selmor and Sandra and have not been tested or established in court. Daisy disputed the portrayal of her as an abusive and cruel stepmother. She said she had attempted to accommodate the wider family and complained that she had been insulted and unfairly vilified on social media.
Further tensions emerged over separate events honouring Oliver, disagreements concerning control of his legacy and Selmor’s place in commemorative activities. Defence of Chivayo prompted gifts The reconciliation condition followed a video Selmor posted on August 20 defending Chivayo after she and the businessman were attacked in the comments beneath an earlier social-media post. “The honest truth is that no musician in Zimbabwe will come out and say what Sir Wicknell is doing is bad, because for sure he is giving us life-changing opportunities,” Selmor said.
She argued that musicians frequently experience financial hardship despite appearing successful to fans. Selmor recalled how she and her husband, Tendai Manatsa, travelled by commuter omnibus while living in Chitungwiza, even after the release of her successful 2013 song Nguva Yangu. She said someone photographed them standing at a kombi rank and shared the image online to embarrass them as children of a musical legend who appeared to have nothing. “What you’re doing, you are removing shame for us as musicians, and we really appreciate it,” she told Chivayo.
Chivayo responded with the Fortuner and cash but used the presentation to push Selmor and Daisy towards reconciliation. Their appearance together fulfilled his request and produced striking images of unity. Whether the meeting will heal the deeper grievances revealed by Selmor and Sandra—or simply represents a reunion secured through financial inducement—remains uncertain.
