HARARE – Zimbabwean music star Sulumani Chimbetu has furiously dismissed sensational social media rumours claiming he romantically pursued former First Lady Grace Mugabe, calling the allegations “baseless lies meant to tarnish my name.”
The explosive claims, which went viral over the weekend, alleged that Chimbetu had proposed to Grace Mugabe , widow of the late former President Robert Mugabe after a supposed encounter in Mazowe and was later reported for harassment at a Harare police station.
Chimbetu, son of legendary musician Simon Chimbetu, broke his silence on Tuesday in an exclusive statement, branding the viral story a “smear campaign” designed to drag his name into political and personal scandal.
“I’ve seen the posts making rounds, but it’s all false. Nothing like that ever happened. People are creating fake content for attention at the expense of my reputation,” Chimbetu said.
Police, Grace Mugabe Silent
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has not confirmed receiving any complaint, and Grace Mugabe herself has not commented, fuelling speculation about the source of the falsehoods.
Fake News Epidemic
The incident highlights Zimbabwe’s growing battle with viral disinformation, where celebrities and political figures are routinely targeted by manipulated or AI-generated content. Authorities have warned that sharing such material could lead to legal action under cyber laws.
Digital experts have called for stricter verification tools and digital literacy campaigns to curb the spread of falsehoods.
Grace Mugabe’s Quiet Return
The former First Lady, who turned 60 recently, has largely retreated from public life since 2017 but remains a figure of fascination and controversy in Zimbabwean politics and media.
