HARARE – Dendera music star Sulumani Chimbetu has strongly denied explosive social media allegations claiming he made romantic advances toward former First Lady Grace Mugabe, labelling the story as completely false and a malicious attempt to damage his reputation.
The rumours, which spread rapidly across Facebook, WhatsApp, and X (formerly Twitter) over the weekend, alleged that Sulumani Chimbetu had encountered Grace Mugabe in Mazowe and proposed to her. According to the viral claims, the widow of the late President Robert Mugabe was so disturbed by the encounter that she filed a harassment report at a Harare police station.
But speaking to ZimLive on Tuesday, the award-winning musician said the entire episode was fabricated and had no basis in reality. He dismissed the rumour as a deliberate smear campaign crafted to generate cheap social media content at his expense.
“I’m just seeing the messages and posts going viral about the allegations. It’s not true. Nothing of that sort has ever happened, and these are just people trying to create content in a bad way,” Sulumani Chimbetu said. “I have never met the former First Lady in Mazowe or anywhere else in a personal capacity.”
No police report has been confirmed in connection with the incident, and there has been no response or comment from Grace Mugabe regarding the allegations.
Sulumani Chimbetu Slams Viral Rumours Linking Him to Grace Mugabe as “Malicious Lies”
The scandal, while clearly fictitious, has triggered serious conversations around the growing trend of disinformation in Zimbabwe’s digital space. Social media platforms have increasingly become hotspots for false narratives targeting public figures, with many celebrities, politicians, and other prominent personalities being subjected to defamatory content designed to go viral.
Sulumani Chimbetu , who is no stranger to the pressures of public life, appeared deeply frustrated by the baseless claims, noting that such falsehoods are not just disruptive but emotionally taxing for both him and his family.
“I’m a public figure, yes, but that does not mean people can say anything they want about me without consequences. I have a family and fans who are affected by such lies. We must protect each other from this kind of cyberbullying,” he said.
Known for hits like Sean Timba and Bvuma Wasakara, Sulumani Chimbetu is one of the most prominent faces of the dendera music genre, following in the footsteps of his late father, Simon Chimbetu. While his music has often touched on political and social themes, the singer has largely kept his private life away from controversy—making the recent rumours all the more jarring.
The viral story also comes at a time when the former First Lady is back in the public eye, having recently celebrated her 60th birthday at a high-profile event attended by close family and political allies. Grace Mugabe has maintained a relatively low profile since the ousting of her husband in the 2017 military-assisted transition that ended his 37-year rule. Her re-emergence, however, appears to have reignited media and public interest in her personal affairs.
Digital rights advocates in Zimbabwe have raised the alarm over the growing misuse of technology to manufacture scandal and attack individuals. The rise of artificial intelligence and deepfake tools has made it easier than ever to produce convincing yet entirely fabricated content that can spread quickly before being debunked.
Speaking to local media, a media ethics lecturer from a Harare university said: “We are now in a time where a single tweet or WhatsApp message can ruin someone’s life. There is urgent need for public education on media literacy, fact-checking, and accountability for those who intentionally spread lies.”
Zimbabwe’s Cyber and Data Protection Act, which came into force in recent years, criminalises the spreading of false information intended to cause harm. While the law remains controversial due to concerns about free expression, authorities have indicated they will increasingly use it to combat fake news and online harassment.
Sulumani Chimbetu ’s management team said they were monitoring the situation and considering legal action against those who originally published the false claims. They warned media houses and bloggers to refrain from amplifying defamatory stories without evidence.
“We will not allow our artist to be dragged into fabricated scandals without consequences. Anyone found to be complicit in spreading this falsehood will be held accountable,” a spokesperson said.
As the dust settles, Sulumani Chimbetu has made it clear he intends to refocus on what he does best—making music and uplifting fans.
“I’m not going to let this distract me. My energy is going into the studio and onto the stage,” he said. “The truth always wins in the end.”
Source- Zimlive
