Comedy star Clive Chigubhu succumbs to cancer

BULAWAYO – Comedian Clive Chigubhu succumbed to cancer on Wednesday morning, his family announced.

He was 31.

The funnyman was diagnosed with cancer early this month and recently told how it had left him unable to walk and struggling to breathe.

His uncle, Prince Mboweni said: “He died around 5AM. It’s a sad moment for our family.”

Tributes were being paid to the comedy genius and popular MC.

Citizens Coalition for Change spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere described Chigubhu as a “beautiful, hilarious soul” in a Twitter tribute.

Radio legend Ezra Tshisa Sibanda said Chigubhu was an “amazing talent gone too soon.”

Last Sunday, Chigubhu opened up about his battle with Diffuse Large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma which starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes.

Chigubhu said: “In late September, my nose got blocked after I suffered from a really painful ear. At the time I thought it was the usual flue. I steamed but I couldn’t clear the blocked nasal passage. In November, I had a sore throat which affected my voice and then in January I was diagnosed with DLBCL at the United Bulawayo Hospitals.

“Up to now I’m still in the process of seeking treatment and I’m deeply worried because I haven’t received any treatment due to the slow processes in the system and also financial constraints. This is happening while this cancer is still spreading.”

Mboweni said Chigubhu, who took the gong for Outstanding Comedian at the 2015 National Arts Merit Awards, had started his cancer treatment on Monday this week.

Chigubhu is survived by a five-year-old daughter. -Zimlive