Police Investigations Throws More Light On Steven Kanumba's Death As Steven's Mother Speaks Up

MOTHER of Steven "The Great" Kanumba, 28, one of Tanzania's most popular actors has said her son was the most precious thing on earth.

Flora Mtegoa, was caught in shock and grief upon hearing the death of her son, who she was set to meet this weekend.

Flora told the 'Sunday News' at the Bukoba Airport on transit to Dar es Salaam on Saturday that the late Kanumba telephoned her on Friday evening (April 6), inviting her to Dar es Salaam.

"I talked to Kanumba on his mobile phone on Friday evening. He invited me to visit him as he was expected to leave for the US for an appointment sometime next week. "He promised to sendme an air ticket, it is so sad that I could not meet my precious son. I have no words to describe the grief," she said, tears running down her cheeks.

She said Kanumba was born on January 8, 1984 at Shinyanga Regional hospital, adding that his father, Charles Kanumba, was still alive working at the same hospital.

She will decide where her son is going to be buried. The famous Kanumba died mysteriously and suddenly on Saturday morning while at his Sinza residence.

Meanwhile the death of the top Tanzanian actor, Steven Kanumba has gone viral online.
His demise has been generating lots of controversies.
Kanumba, was pronounced dead on arrival at Muhimbili National Referral Hospital where he had been rushed by his doctor, a family member and close friend.

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Kinondoni Regional Police Commander Charles Kenyela said Kanumba was taken to the hospital unconscious from his city home in Sinza Suburb.

"Initial reports indicate that he fell in his bedroom while with his 18-year-old girlfriend Elizabeth Michael," said Mr Kenyela. The girl, also an actor commonly referred to as 'Lulu', has been cohabiting with Kanumba for some time now.

Mr Kenyela confirmed they were holding Lulu for questioning. She was still locked up at the Oysterbay Police Station on Saturday night.

The police chief said investigations were still in the initial stages, and as such, it was too early to draw conclusions on the cause of the death.

He, however, promised to issue a detailed statement, adding that a postmortem was also underway at the hospital's mortuary. According to Mr Kenyela, Lulu told them that Kanumba fell and hit his head on the concrete wall before passing out.

"She said the deceased just slumped to the ground and hit the concrete once they were in the bedroom," he said in a telephone interview with The Citizen, our sister paper.

Lulu told the police that Kanumba had picked a quarrel with her after arriving home at about 1a.m. over a telephone call she had received.

"Lulu said when he got aggressive she tried to run away but Kanumba caught up with her outside the gate and took her back to the bedroom. She says he collapsed as soon as he locked the door and hit the wall," Mr Kenyela said.

At the scene
The police took a glass and bottle of whisky from the scene which the deceased was believed to have been drinking. Other witnesses claimed they also saw them dust the wall and take a sword from the bedroom.

News of Kanumba's death was greeted with much shock since the self-made actor had attracted tremendous following and liking for his quick success in the film industry, spanning almost decade.

Thousands of fans rushed to the hospital as soon as they got wind of the incident. The crowds welled by the second outside his gate, forcing the police to intervene to cordon the highway for smooth traffic flow.