10 Zim celebrities who got arrested in 2023
By Showbiz Reporter
For the Mugabe brothers, it had to be violence. For artists, it had to be fraud and for footballers, the story was that of drugs. This small paragraph sums up an eventful 2023 for some of Zimbabwe’s most celebrated individuals who got into the news all for the wrong reasons after being arrested.
Below are 10 Zimbabwe celebrities who got themselves into trouble during the year.
ROBERT MUGABE JUNIOR
The older of late former President Robert Mugabe’s two known sons, Robert Mugabe Junior was in February this year arrested for violent conduct and causing US$12 000 worth of damage to cars and other property belonging to his friend Sindiso Nkatazo.
The allegations came after the media-shy character had attended a party in an upmarket area in Harare.
Mugabe was also accused of spitting on a police officer.
CHATUNGA BELLARMINE MUGABE
No doubt the most controversial of the surviving Mugabe siblings, Chatunga was arrested in April this year and you guessed it right – violent conduct, and hold it; also involving smashing of a car.
Together with an accomplice, one Tatenda Chinyuku, Chatunga was accused of smashing a window panel of a car belonging to a Lazarus Pairemanzi.
They were charged with malicious damage to property and assault.
WINSTON MHANGO
A veteran of the game and generously talented too, ZPC Kariba footballer Winston Mhango was in May 2023 arrested by detectives in Kariba charged with unlawful dealing in dangerous drugs.
His arrest led to the recovery of approximately 4,7 kilogrammes of dagga, 11 bottles x 100ml Benylin with Codeine cough syrup, 01 bottle x 100ml BronCleer with Codeine cough syrup, 30 boxes of 10 x 100’s Ziplock Bags [packaging plastics], 01 x Electro Master Kitchen Scale, 02 x MH Mini Digital scales, 19 packs of 50 Toast Leaf rolling papers and 01 cigarette lighter.
Mhango also played for FC Platinum, Highlanders and Zambian club Kabwe Warriors.
MERCY MUSHANINGA
Granted, her arrest was in the previous year but Mercy Mushaninga’s case played out more prominently in 2023 when the former model was convicted and sentenced for fraud after duping five models of a combined US$10 200 in a botched Dubai modelling event.
Court ordered her to pay back the money and also perform 350 hours of unpaid community service in Harare’s Belvedere Vehicle Inspection Department.
NATHAN ZIWINI
The former Dynamos midfielder was arrested July 2023 in connection with the murder of a reveller at a night club in Harare.
He was being accused of fatally assaulting 40-year-old Mamasa Magwarimbo in a misunderstanding over a chair at a night club in Dzivarasekwa.
The victim was said to have sustained severe head injuries and died upon admission to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. In the previous year, Ziwini was arrested for possession of crystal methamphetamine worth US$10 000.
ENOCK ‘NOX’ GUNI
No doubt one of Zimbabwe’s most enterprising musicians, Nox was arrested in Ireland July 2023 for credit card fraud.
The urban grooves chanter spent a weekend in custody and had his scheduled show at the Button Factory cancelled because of the incident.
Irish media reported the Ndinonyara singer was staying at the Hard Rock Hotel in Temple Bar and when it came to paying the €787 (US$861) bill, including room service, he “paid with a shocked American woman’s credit card number.”
He would eventually be forced to compensate the hotel for the loss and also pay an extra €100 towards charity.
MAI TITI
Arguably the craziest socialite on the local social scene, Felistas “Mai Titi” Murata was June arrested and later convicted for fraud and theft of trust property after trial.
Mai Titi was accused of borrowing US$10 000 from a local businesswoman before she surrendered a hired vehicle as collateral security.
She was set free by the High Court four-and-a-half months into an 18-month jail term that had been imposed on her.
GIFT MUZADZI
No doubt one of the finest goalkeepers during his time in the Zimbabwe’s premiership, Gift Umbro Muzadzi was arrested and taken to court facing allegations of growing seven plants of dagga without a licence.
Muzadzi was accused of growing dagga plants at his home yard in Goodhope area, Harare.
He was at one time first choice goalkeeper for premiership side Dynamos.
IVY KOMBO
One of Zimbabwe’s legendary gospel musicians vanished from public life when she relocated to the UK past few years. She would later resurface with a crime of acquiring a certificate of conversion to practice law in Zimbabwe fraudulently handing over her head.
Kombo was charged together with her husband, Pastor Admire Kasi.
They graduated from the University of Bedfordshire, United Kingdom with Bachelor of Laws degrees.
Prosecutors claimed the couple paid over US$1 000 to attain a certificate of completion with the Council for Legal Education (CLE) without writing and passing the mandatory conversion examinations.
DJ OLLAH 7
The former StarFM radio presenter was caught on a viral social media video early December being handcuffed by plain clothes cops following a road rage incident in Harare.
Real name, Owen Madondo, Ollah 7 had a bust-up with some police officers after a minor road traffic accident. He was incensed by the driver of the other vehicle whom he accused of “scratching my vehicle”.
He was later released.
