HARARE Two weeks after the death of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, his memorial in Los Angeles received live coverage on Zimbabwe Television (ZTV). Zimbabwean state television has followed the aftermath of his death and local radio stations have continued to pay tribute to Jackson on the airwaves.In the late 1990s, Jackson paid a brief visit to Zimbabwe, staying at the five-star Meikles Hotel, where staff painted the room pink just for him. At the time, he met President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace. Paying tributes to Michael Jackson’s artistry, music and movie stars from all over the world have continued to express their sadness over the death of a true legend.
Nelson Mandela made the following statement for the recent memorial service:
“Dear Jackson family, it is with great sadness that we learned of the untimely death of Michael Jackson. Michael became close to us after he started visiting and performing in South Africa regularly. We grew fond of him, and he became close — a close member of our family.
We had great admiration for his talent and that he was able to triumph over tragedy on so many occasions in his life. Michael was a giant and a legend in the music industry. And we mourn with the millions of fans worldwide. We also mourn with his family and his friends over the loss of our dear friend.
He will be missed, and memories about him cherished for a very long time. My wife and I, our family, our friends, send you our condolences during this time of mourning. Be strong, – Nelson Mandela.” President Barack Obama said that like Elvis, like (Frank) Sinatra, like the Beatles, he became a core part of our culture”.
Post published in: Africa News