News from Civsy, based on generative AI tools and retrieval-augumented real time data searchZimbabwe remains a hostile space for artists challenging the government, with increasing censorship and harassment under President Mnangagwa. Despite constitutional guarantees, musicians like Winky D and comedians like Samantha Kureya face threats, abductions, and show cancellations for criticizing corruption and injustice. Legal barriers, economic restrictions, and violent crackdowns stifle creative expression. Advocacy groups push for reforms, but repression continues as Zimbabwe heads toward a tense political future.
Zimbabwe remains a challenging environment for freedom of expression for artists whose work critiques the government or addresses sensitive socio-political issues. Under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, censorship and harassment of artists have intensified, reflecting broader repression of civil liberties and democratic rights. Despite constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression, artists face legal, economic, and physical barriers that stifle their creative voices.
Since Mnangagwa ascended to power in 2017 following a coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe has seen escalating restrictions on civil liberties. The ruling ZANU-PF party has proposed extending Mnangagwa’s presidency beyond the constitutional two-term limit, set to end in 2028. This move has sparked protests, including those led by war veterans like Blessed Geza, who accuse Mnangagwa of corruption and authoritarianism. On March 31, 2025, planned demonstrations in Harare and Bulawayo were violently suppressed by police using tear gas, with businesses shuttered and streets patrolled by heavily armed officers [1][8]. Amid this political unrest, artists have become prominent targets for repression due to their ability to influence public opinion through creative expression.
Musicians have borne the brunt of government censorship. Winky D, a celebrated reggae-dancehall artist, has faced repeated harassment for his politically charged music. On March 4, 2023, police stormed his performance in Chitungwiza as he was about to perform Ibotso, a song critical of corruption and economic mismanagement [2][9]. This followed calls from ZANU-PF-affiliated groups earlier that year to ban Winky D’s music entirely, accusing him of inciting dissent among youth. His album Eureka Eureka, released in late 2022, drew sharp criticism from ruling party loyalists for its social justice themes [2][9]. Authorities have disrupted Winky D's shows multiple times over the years, including during a concert in Harare in 2020 under the guise of COVID-19 restrictions and another performance in Borrowdale in 2022 [9]. Another musician, Baba Harare, experienced similar suppression when police refused to grant him clearance for a show in Chitungwiza on March 5, 2023. No reasons were provided for the cancellation, but Baba Harare had been using his platform to encourage youth voter registration ahead of elections [2].
Comedians have also been targeted. Samantha Kureya, known as “Gonyeti,” was abducted from her home in Harare on August 21, 2019. Masked men beat her, stripped her naked, and forced her to drink sewage water before abandoning her. This attack followed her release of satirical skits mocking police brutality and government policies [3]. Despite international condemnation, no meaningful investigation into her abduction has been conducted.
Thomas Mapfumo, a legendary Chimurenga musician known for his liberation-themed music, remains in exile due to fears for his safety. In November 2004, government-aligned groups raided flea markets in Harare to destroy CDs of his album Chaputika, which criticized military abuses [4]. Mapfumo has stated that returning to Zimbabwe would endanger his life despite government claims that he is free to return [4].
Artists from marginalized communities face additional challenges. In October 2023, LGBTQ+ performers reported harassment during public events in Bulawayo. One artist was subjected to abuse and object-throwing during a mainstream event [5]. These incidents highlight the intersection of artistic repression with societal discrimination.
In this context of repression, Nhimbe Trust (Partner of Mimeta) has emerged as a leading advocate for artistic freedom in Zimbabwe. In 2023, Nhimbe Trust released its flagship report titled ArtSpeak – Artistic Freedom Report 2023. This comprehensive document examined the state of artistic freedom across 17 African countries, including Zimbabwe. Authored by Lisa Sidambe, the report highlighted critical insights into violations of artistic rights and provided actionable recommendations for policymakers [6][10][12]. It documented cases of censorship, harassment, and legal barriers affecting artists while advocating for reforms to create a freer creative landscape.
The report underscored challenges such as the arbitrary application of laws like the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act and the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. These laws have been instrumentalized to silence dissenting voices under the guise of maintaining public order [6][12]. Nhimbe Trust also identified gaps in policy frameworks that fail to align with international standards protecting artistic freedom [6][12]. Zimbabwe’s legal framework exacerbates these challenges further. The Censorship Act allows authorities to ban works deemed “inciteful” or contrary to public order without clear criteria [6][12]. The Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act criminalizes statements deemed prejudicial to the state or insulting the president [6][12]. These laws foster an environment of fear and self-censorship among artists.
Economic policies also suppress artistic expression. In February 2025, the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) introduced a $150 per-event licensing fee for bands performing copyrighted music—a sharp increase from the previous annual fee of $50. This led to widespread cancellations of live performances as venue owners struggled to comply. Although the National Arts Council suspended the tariff on March 31 following protests from stakeholders, the controversy highlights how financial barriers are used as tools of repression [14]. Organizations like UNESCO and Freemuse have called on Zimbabwe to align its laws with international standards protecting freedom of expression. Recommendations include repealing restrictive laws like POSA (Public Order and Security Act), replacing censorship boards with independent classification bodies, and reducing exorbitant licensing fees for community broadcasters [13][14]. These measures aim to create an enabling environment for artistic freedom.
Despite these efforts at advocacy and reform, progress remains slow as Zimbabwe continues to use legal and extrajudicial means to silence dissenting voices. In Zimbabwe’s repressive environment, art remains a powerful tool for resistance. Musicians like Winky D and comedians like Samantha Kureya continue to challenge corruption and injustice despite significant personal risks. Their struggles underscore the urgent need for systemic reforms to protect artistic freedom. As political tensions escalate ahead of Mnangagwa’s potential term extension bid in 2028, safeguarding artistic rights will be critical in preserving Zimbabwe’s democratic aspirations.
Citations:
[1] https://nehandaradio.com/2025/02/18/mnangagwas-assurances-on-term-extension-are-devoid-of-meaning-and-credibility/[2] https://www.pindula.co.zw/2024/05/24/state-media-unfreeze-ban-on-winky-ds-music/[3] https://mg.co.za/tag/samantha-kureya/[4] https://www.freemuse.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Zimbabwe-rapport-sats.1.pdf[5] https://www.context.news/socioeconomic-inclusion/in-zimbabwe-lgbtq-artists-dodge-discrimination-to-stay-on-stage[6] https://www.chronicle.co.zw/nhimbe-trust-releases-artspeak-artistic-freedom-report-2023/[7] http://www.mimeta.org/mimeta-news/2024/3/25/nhimbe-trust-releases-new-report-advocating-for-artistic-freedom-across-africa[8] https://qiraatafrican.com/en/15029/zimbabwe-president-mnangagwas-third-term-bid-faces-challenge/[9] https://allafrica.com/stories/202405240044.html[10] https://panaf.org/uncategorized/nhimbe-trust-releases-2023-report-on-artistic-freedom-in-africa/[11] https://www.nhimbe.org/artistic-freedom[12] https://www.nhimbe.org/sites/default/files/reportdownloads/A%20Nhimbe%20Trust%20Artistic%20Freedom%20Report%202023sm-min.pdf[13] https://www.unesco.org/creativity/en/policy-monitoring-platform/universal-periodic-review-artistic-freedom-zimbabwe[14] http://www.mimeta.org/mimeta-work/2024/6/13/monitoring-violations-of-artistic-freedom-and-rights[15] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-49433387[16] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3753761.stm[17] https://www.okayafrica.com/zimbabwe-president-term-extension/[18] https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/03/10/zimbabwe-police-shut-down-popular-musicians-show[19] https://www.africanews.com/2019/08/24/how-zimbabwean-comedienne-was-abducted-tortured-abandoned/[20] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Mapfumo[21] https://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00087360.html[22] https://ntvkenya.co.ke/news/mnangagwas-bid-to-extend-rule-sparks-protests-in-harare/[23] https://allafrica.com/stories/202307040559.html[24] https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20190822-zimbabwe-comedian-abducted-beaten-tensions-mount[25] https://etd.ohiolink.edu/acprod/odb_etd/ws/send_file/send?accession=miami1682699475706453&disposition=inline[26] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/zimbabwe-country-policy-and-information-notes/country-policy-and-information-note-sexual-orientation-gender-identity-and-expression-zimbabwe-july-2024-accessible[27] https://www.thezimbabwean.co/author/nhimbe-trust/[28] http://zimbabwe.shafaqna.com/EN/AL/1818759[29] https://www.instagram.com/nhimbetrust_official/[30] https://ifacca.org/news/2024/02/21/artspeak-nhimbe-trust-artistic-freedom-report-2023/[31] https://www.nhimbe.org[32] https://www.nhimbe.org/annual-reports[33] https://panaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ARTSPEAK-A-Nhimbe-Trust-Artistic-Freedom-2023-Report-.pdf[34] http://www.mimeta.org/mimeta-work/tag/Nhimbe+Trust[35] https://www.unesco.org/creativity/en/policy-monitoring-platform/leverage-rights-artistic-freedom-zimbabwe[36] https://twitter.com/ChronicleZim/status/1800141768442392769[37] https://static1.squarespace.com/static/50b87745e4b05b20d2d8528f/t/664f255e571fc044c15294cf/1716462944501/Mimeta+Program+Report+2023+final.pdf[38] https://www.losangelesblade.com/2023/01/17/lgbtq-advocacy-groups-in-zimbabwe-fight-gender-based-violence/[39] https://africalia.be/en/nhimbe-trust/
