Gospel star raises hell

GOSPEL'S unrepentant hell-raiser Lundi Tyamara is in trouble with the law after belting out unholy tunes to his former boss, Tshepo Nzimande.

Tyamara (36) threatened to make Nzimande (46) meet his creator after they argued over the ownership of the singer's new album on Wednesday.

The gospel star, who has previously battled booze and drugs, warned Nzimande that "he will die with his mouth wide open".

Sunday World can reveal that Nzimande opened a case of intimidation against the award-winning star at Johannesburg Central police station on Wednesday and that the police are on his tail.

According to Nzimande's affidavit, Tyamara sent him a barrage of insulting text messages after the release of his new album, Lundi and Friends.

Nzimande says he takes Tyamara's text messages as serious threats to his life and that he is scared that the singer might carry them out.

Nzimande, who owns Zuzmuz Music, says Tyamara took umbrage at the release of the album despite the two of them having a legal contract in place.

Tyamara left Nzimande's record label last year before his contract expired.

He has joined rival record label MNE Media, under which he recorded the album.

Tyamara was planning to release the album this week, but Nzimande intercepted it and released it under his stable on Tuesday.

Tyamara complained on Ukhozi FM that Nzimande had stolen his product, but the former TV star defended himself.

This rattled Tyamara's cage, who later phoned Nzimande and subjected him to a barrage of verbal epithets before sending him the un-biblical text messages.

"One of the DJs from Ukhozi asked me about royalties for the album and I sent him an SMS saying Lundi will get royalties as per the contract. I copied Lundi in my response," says Nzimande.

Tyamara responded by saying: "Uyanya [you're talking bull]. Wow I will get my royalties from Nkosana and you. Let's do this shit and get done. I'm ready let's go."

Nkosana Mthunzi is employed at record company Universal Music and he was given the master copy by Tyamara's new boss to listen to.

Mthunzi declines to comment on the matter.

Nzimande confirms that he has opened a case of intimidation against Tyamara

"Nobody has the right to threaten me. I got that album from Lundi because he is my artist. Now he threatens me. Justice must prevail," he says.

MNE director Steve Hlazo says he is going to open a case of theft against Nzimande.

"I have spent over R250000 on that project; Tshepo has no right to release it.

"The fact is he stole from me because that is not Lundi's property, it is my property. That property has nothing to do with the contractual dispute between him and Lundi," he says.

Hlazo dismisses as utter rubbish Nzimande's claims that Tyamara threatened him.

"That's not a threat, he was merely saying that he will die like a dog because he steals from artists.

"Lundi sold many copies, but he has nothing to show for his achievements because Tshepo took all the monies," says Hlazo.

Tyamara could not be reached for comment and did not respond to messages sent to him.

Police spokeswoman Doniah Mothutsane confirms that Nzimande has opened a case of intimidation against Tyamara.

"The complainant alleges that he was intimidated by gospel singer Lundi Tyamara telephonically, via SMS and live on Ukhozi FM, saying that he will die like a dog.

"A case of intimidation is being investigated," she says.

• ngwakom@sundayworld.co.za