South African musician Makhadzi should be allowed to perform in Zimbabwe despite boycott threats linked to anti-immigration protests in South Africa, Presidential spokesperson George Charamba has said.
Makhadzi, whose real name is Ndivhudzannyi Ralivhona, is scheduled to perform at the Cheso Power Festival at Alex Sports Club in Harare on 31 July 2026.
However, the show is facing pressure from some Zimbabweans who are demanding that South African artists be barred from performing in the country.
The calls follow reports of Zimbabweans being forced to sleep in the open over fears of physical harm by South African vigilante groups.
Several prominent Zimbabweans have argued that South African artists should not be allowed to perform locally while their compatriots suffer across the Limpopo.
But Charamba said Makhadzi, who is from the Venda tribe, should not be punished. Writing on X on Thursday, he said artists should never be persecuted for the actions of others.
“As I followed instances of AFROPHOBIA in South Africa, I noticed many South Africans hailing from the Limpopo Province, which is contiguous to Zimbabwe and Mozambique and which is home to the sister Mapungubwe Monuments – sister to Great Zimbabwe Monuments – were also on the receiving end of those AFROPHOBIC ATTACKS. Often, they were mistaken for Zimbabweans,” Charamba wrote.
“Is it correct to subject them – including their creative children – to DOUBLE VICTIMISATION??? I think the girl must be allowed to perform; in fact, we must regale her as one of our own. WHICH SHE IS!!!!!! Musandituke!!!!!”
Charamba argued that people from Limpopo Province share historical and cultural ties with Zimbabweans and had themselves been victims of the attacks. He said subjecting Makhadzi to a boycott would amount to “double victimisation”.
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