Media personality Somizi Mhlongo has condemned all who made a mockery of Zahara s while she was still alive.
The award-winning Afropop singer – real name Bulelwa Mkutukana – passed away on Monday, 11 December, after being hospitalised for almost three weeks, allegedly due to liver complications.
SOMIZI ZAHARA’S PASSING
Zahara has previously trended on numerous occasions over speculation that she was performing under the influence. She also opened up about her depression and disclosed that it was the cause of her excessive drinking.
In a video he shared on his social media platforms on Wednesday morning, Somizi addressed the culture of respecting people only when they have died. The former Idols SA judge slammed people who are only giving Zahara her flowers now that she is no more.
“When I heard Zahara is in hospital and she’s not in a good condition, I thought, should Zahara not make it (God forbid) I know for sure Zahara is going to be an overnight hero, icon. People are going to be saying how she was gone too soon, how she was amazing, how she was an amazing vocalist.
“Yet we know that in reality she was one of the most mocked personalities. People celebrated her downfall. People used to make fun of her situation. We knew she had her share of hardships. But she was hardly given her flowers,” he said.
Somizi called on people to respect life more, adding that he is not absolving himself from the behaviour he is addressing as he, too, is guilty
“Can you imagine how beautiful the world would be if we celebrated and respected life and each other? That is the only thing that we are guaranteed because we do not know what happens after death,” Somizi continued.
“You have to die for you to be acknowledged, more respected, more honoured and to be given your flowers literally and figuratively. People buy more flowers at funerals than in real life. People give you more flowers in your death than in real life. People acknowledge you more when you are dead than when you are alive… If that’s how we’re going to be, then keep your flowers.