“Political satirists are vital to the function of a free and empowered society,” said Freemuse Executive Director Dr Srirak Plipat.

Zimbabwean musician Jeys Marabini and his band were attacked by audience members for singing in their native IsiNdebele language during their performance at the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Musician Jah Prayzah was reportedly threatened by youth group Children of War Veterans for allegedly composing songs to cause political tension.

South African dancer Zodwa Wabantu was banned from performing at the 2017 Harare International Carnival in reaction to complaints of indecency.

Singer Cris Gera received death threats after the release of his song ‘Chema Zimbabwe’ (Cry for Zimbabwe) in 2016 and fled to South Africa.

Artist and activist Silvanos Mudzvova is recovering in a Harare hospital after six armed men abducted him from his home late in the evening on 13 September 2016, drove him out of the capital city and brutally tortured him, Mudzvova told Freemuse from his hospital bed. “The people who took …

Police arrested theatre producer and actor Silvanos Mudzvova on 13 April 2016 in Zimbabwe’s capital Harare for staging his new play ‘Missing Diamonds, I Need My Share’ at parliament, reported national newspaper News Day. Mudzvova was released later that evening, according to the artist’s Facebook status update on 14 April …

Zimbabwe should abolish its Censorship Act and any prior-censorship bodies or systems, according to a joint stakeholder submission to the UN’s Universal Periodic Review process (UPR) by Freemuse and Nhimbe – two civil society organisations defending artistic freedom in Zimbabwe and globally. COPENHAGEN/BULAWAYO, 31 MARCH 2016 | Zimbabwe’s 2013 constitution …

Zimbabwe should abolish its Censorship Act and any prior-censorship bodies or systems, according to a joint stakeholder submission to the UN’s Universal Periodic Review process (UPR) by Freemuse and Nhimbe – two civil society organisations defending artistic freedom in Zimbabwe and globally.

Zimbabwe’s nascent comedy scene is quickly spreading across the southern African nation, from its capitol’s urban landscape to other major cities; and growing in its diversity, from its humble beginnings in stand-up to news satire distributed via DVD. However, in its infancy, comedy in Zimbabwe still faces challenges as the …