Jonathan Moyo takes aim at MiCasa

Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo has taken a dig at house music band MiCasa over the use of the Zimbabwean flag at their Bulawayo show last weekend.

MiCasa had the crowd eating from their palm with a fluid performance of club bangers such as Jika and These Streets while their lead vocalist J' Something covered himself with the Zimbabwean flag.

The celebrated South African trio went on to post several pictures on twitter embracing the Zimbabwean flag, screaming "Zimbabwe, we love you so much! Last night was a moment in our career we won't forget!"

This did not amuse Moyo who took to social media to show his contempt.

"When Rhodies took over #ThisFlag, the cat came out of the bag & Pastor G sorry Pastor E lost the plot!" he wrote satirically on his twitter account, in reply to MiCasa's posts.

Moyo's remarks quickly drew the ire of one John Madhiri who responded bluntly.

"Muzukuru hatiudzwe kurira kwemimba nevarungu ufunge, tine nzara zvaunotiwona kutokonya tufoni kudai. Ende hatichadi.

(Grandson, we do not wait to be told by whites of our birth pains, don't be fooled by our preoccupation with social media, we are hungry and we are fed up," he said.

#ThisFlag is a citizen movement against social, political and economic injustices that has been gaining momentum since cleric Evan Mawarire called for a nationwide strike which brought businesses, schools and the transport system to a halt.

In as far as Moyo's dig at Pastor G is concerned, it could be emanating from Stanley Gwanzura's comments following the arrest of Mawarire for his part in calling for protests.

"Evan Mawarire is one of the most peace-loving and progressive Zimbabweans I have ever met. His arrest is sure sign of what God has put in him.

"A prophet in the mould of Elijah. His arrest and detention is a travesty of justice in Zimbabwe.

"A justice system skewed in favour of repression and fear. We are praying for you Pastor Evan Mawarire. Isaiah 41:10 says, 'Do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God and I will uphold with my righteous right hand,'" Pastor G said then.

Observers say Moyo's comments on MiCasa should not be taken lightly given government's previous heavy-handedness towards foreign artistes who speak out or show any small sign of opposition to the government.

Another popular South African music group Freshly Ground, who were due to stage the closing performance at the 2014 Harare International Festival of the Arts, came face-to-face with this reality.

The South African pop music outfit was deported upon arrival at the Harare International Airport amid suggestions this was punishment for criticising President Robert Mugabe in the song Chicken to Change.