Monday, June 01

Zimbabwean Music Legend Thomas Mapfumo Hints At Retirement

Thomas Mukanya Mapfumo hints at retirement. He made the revelation in a wide-ranging and exclusive interview with Standard Style on Thursday, the day he celebrated his 75th birthday. The US-based Mapfumo also spoke about a biography project which he said is on the cards and will detail his life and works from a more personal perspective. Thomas Mapfumo will be retiring from music soon to take a deserved rest and devote his time to the impartation of musical knowledge to up-and-coming musicians, particularly the young.

“I have kept it a secret. However, due to the importance of this day in my life, perhaps it is time for my fellow country-folk to know that Mukanya will not be appearing on stage ever. I need to rest and pass on the baton to others and this is going to happen in the very near future,” Mukanya said.

“But I will be there in the background dishing out musical knowledge to those that seek it, especially the young men and women who have the passion to uphold our Zimbabwean culture through the art of music. “Already, I am working with and moulding my son, Kurai Makore [that’s my other surname by the way], so that he, too, will carry the family torch. Also recently I had a joint gig with a very talented young lady by the name of Rati Dangarembwa. Mono Mukundu has also given me works by his son who I believe has a very bright future and is a guitar player par excellence.

“This is what I have decided to devote my time doing during the course of my retirement, being advisor and mentor to the young ones. “However, the bias of my education to the up-and-coming artistes will be centred on our music, traditional music. There is no point in our youths attempting to compete with Charlie Black, Vybz Kartel or Beenie Man because they will never win Jamaicans’ hearts. Like Salif Keitawho promotes Malian music and Fela Kuti doing the same for Nigeria, I will focus on the music of my motherland.

“So, yes, I have plans to come home for retirement. Kuno kwatiri unoti kukuda here iwe? Aiwa, tiri musango, mumarimuka saka kana muvhimi achinge apedza basa, adzimba, anodzokera kumusha. Home is where the heart and soul are and I aspire to ultimately settle where my umbilical cord is.”

Mapfumo, who has been based in Oregon since his self-imposed exile more than two decades ago (returning home just twice for some shows), on Thursday turned 75, a feat he said can only be achieved when one has the protection of both the deity and the ancestoral spirits. “I thank God and midzimu yangu [my ancestoral spirits] for having taken me this far, it’s not of my own making,” he said. “All humankind acknowledges the hand of God, it’s only that we have different ways of worship, but the destination of prayers is the same.

“As a Zimbabwean, however, I also have the medium spirits that give me protection. Prophets like Chaminuka [just like those you read about in the Bible] were sent to us so that they could guide us. I am not ashamed to be associated with those of the same skin colour as me.

“If you go to India, they will tell you they worship Buddha, and sometime back when I visited Hawaii, they told me they communicate with a god they call Kameyameya. The Red Indians here in America believe in a deity they call Wakatanga. So who is our guiding spirit as Africans and as Zimbabweans?

“My main worry is that when the colonisers came hand-clutching the Bible, they also wielded the gun, stole our God and sold us a God they wanted us to believe in. They told us that our way of worship was demonic, but no, that is not true. That is the very reason why it has proved difficult to unite the people because ancestral spirits are angry.”

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Product Liability Class Action Lawsuit: Defective Product Claims

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Product Liability Class Action Lawsuit: Defective Product Claims

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When a product fails, one customer may ask for a refund. But when the same defect affects thousands of customers, a product liability class action lawsuit may follow.

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These cases may involve vehicles, appliances, electronics, medical devices, household products, baby products, food, cosmetics, tools, or other consumer goods.

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A product liability class action can help consumers seek compensation, repairs, replacements, refunds, or safety changes.

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What Is a Product Liability Class Action?

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A product liability class action is a lawsuit involving a product that allegedly has a common defect affecting many people.

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The defect may involve:

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Design flaw
rnManufacturing defect
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rnFalse advertising
rnPremature failure
rnSafety hazard
rnWarranty violation
rnHidden defect

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The key issue is whether the defect is common across the class.

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Common Product Defect Examples

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Product class actions may involve:

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Cars with defective parts
rnAppliances that fail early
rnElectronics with battery problems
rnContaminated products
rnFaulty medical devices
rnUnsafe children’s products
rnDefective home equipment
rnMisleading product claims
rnWarranty coverage disputes

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Not every recall creates a lawsuit, and not every lawsuit involves a recall.

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What Evidence Should Consumers Keep?

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If you believe a product is defective, save:

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Proof of purchase
rnReceipts
rnWarranty documents
rnPhotos
rnVideos
rnRepair records
rnCustomer service emails
rnProduct packaging
rnSerial numbers
rnModel numbers
rnRecall notices
rnMedical bills if injured
rnReplacement costs

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Evidence can help show when you bought the product, what happened, and what damages you experienced.

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What Can a Product Class Action Settlement Provide?

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Depending on the case, settlement benefits may include:

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Cash refunds
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rnWarning label changes

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The settlement terms depend on the case.

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Defective Product Injury Claims

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Some product cases involve only economic loss, such as paying for a product that failed early.

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Others involve physical injury. Injury claims may be more individualized and may require separate legal review.

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If you were seriously injured by a product, speak with a product liability attorney before signing a class action release.

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Warranty Claims

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Many product class actions involve warranties.

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A company may be accused of:

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Refusing warranty coverage
rnConcealing known defects
rnSelling products with short useful life
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rnCharging for repairs that should be covered

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Warranty law can vary by state.

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Product Recalls and Lawsuits

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A recall can be important evidence, but it does not automatically mean every consumer has the same legal claim.

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If a product is recalled, follow official safety instructions. Keep all recall documents.

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Questions to Ask a Lawyer

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Ask:

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Is the defect common?
rnAre other consumers affected?
rnIs there a recall?
rnWhat law applies?
rnDo I need repair records?
rnShould I keep the product?
rnCould I have an individual injury claim?
rnWhat rights would I give up in a settlement?

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Final Thoughts

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A product liability class action lawsuit may help consumers recover money or force companies to fix widespread defects.

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If a product failed, caused damage, or did not perform as advertised, keep records and check whether others experienced the same issue.

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A pattern of harm is what can turn a product complaint into a class action case.

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Motorcycle Accident Lawyer: Legal Help After A Serious Bike Crash

Motorcycle accidents often cause serious injuries because riders have less protection than people in cars. A motorcycle accident lawyer helps injured riders pursue compensation after a crash.

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Common injuries include broken bones, road rash, spinal injuries, brain injuries, internal injuries, and permanent disability.

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Insurance companies may unfairly blame motorcyclists by assuming they were speeding or reckless. A lawyer can help fight this bias with evidence.

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Important evidence may include police reports, helmet damage, photos, witness statements, traffic camera footage, and accident reconstruction.

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Compensation may include medical bills, lost income, motorcycle repairs, pain and suffering, and future treatment.

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If a driver failed to yield, changed lanes unsafely, texted while driving, or drove impaired, they may be responsible.

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Motorcycle crash victims should get medical care quickly and avoid giving recorded statements without legal advice.

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