Manyuchi wants a roof over his head

By Langton Nyakwenda

HARARE – Charles Manyuchi intends to use part of the $50 000 he received from President Mugabe to buy a house in one of Harare’s medium-density areas and complete building his parents’ house.

Using proceeds from the ring, Manyuchi has been building an eight-roomed house for his parents in Nyabira, some few kilometres outside Harare, and the World Boxing Council International welterweight champion is determined to finish off that project.

“The President advised me to put the money to good use. I will buy a house, definitely.

“What I am deliberating on right now is where to buy the house, but I prefer the medium-density areas.

“This is like a pension to me; you never know with boxing, I might never get hold of such an amount in the future,” Manyuchi said last Friday.

“Building a nice house for my parents is something that has been at the centre of my heart.

“I was already in the process of doing so, but with this kind of money I can now expedite the project.

“My parents have been instrumental in my career; remember my father is my local trainer and permanent advisor and I have to do something for them.

“Even in the Bible we are told to honour and respect our parents,” said the ardent member of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu apostolic sect.

Manyuchi’s father Ottis, a former boxer of repute in the 1980s, has vowed to ensure his son puts the money to good use.

“When we left the State House last Thursday I sat down with my son and reminded him of the dangers associated with handling such huge amounts of cash.

“Ndipo panowanda shamwari ipapa (he has to deal with hangers-on), I have been telling him. I have been in boxing before; it is a dangerous sport and one needs to invest in and enjoy the fruits of his toil.

“The other thing is Charles is now in the limelight, you media guys are the ones who will also bring him down if he makes a silly move,” said Manyuchi senior.

Ottis, a retired soldier, also took time to chronicle his son’s history following contrasting reports on the origins of Charles, who has in most cases been referred to as a Masvingo-born and bred boxer.

“Charles was born at Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo. He did his primary education in Old Tafara before he enrolled at Chifamba Secondary School in Mutoko.

“He is heavily linked with Masvingo because that is where his early sponsor Edison Zvobgo Jnr was based. Zvobgo advised that the boy moved to Masvingo so that he could pay closer attention to him.

“We come from Suswe in Mudzi, that is where our clan is and that is why Chief Nyamukoho of Mutoko has invited us there next Saturday,” he said.

Charles was born in a family of eight and has Mudawashe (32), Tendai (30), Loveness (28), twin sister Jacqueline, Ottis Jnr (22), Thulisiwe (18) and Munyaradzi (13) as siblings. The Sunday Mail