Holy Ten apologises to Mnangagwa, checks into rehab

Rapper Holy Ten has revealed that he has checked into a rehabilitation facility in South Africa, admitting a prolonged battle with alcohol while rejecting persistent allegations of drug abuse that have trailed him in recent weeks.

In a statement on Wednesday, the 26-year-old artist, born Mukudzei Chitsama, described the decision as both difficult and necessary.

"I have decided to go and check myself into a rehabilitation centre, one of the best in the world, to show the youth that this is your way if this is your problem," he said. "Rehab is a very difficult decision especially when you know you're not using what they say you're using. As a man that drank a lot of alcohol, but still had the ability to make proper decisions the next morning…I thought I could just conquer it easily. But the same alcohol has destroyed others before – their health, their families, their talents and their lives. So I've made this bold decision to get professional help."

Holy Ten's treatment is reportedly being funded by President Emmerson Mnangagwa's son, Collins, who stepped in after the rapper's mother and wife sought his assistance. Collins, together with his twin brother Sean, was recently the target of a public outburst from the musician on Instagram.

The rapper has been under intense scrutiny following a series of erratic statements, including a shocking attack on President Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF, which he described as "a terrorist organisation." He also accused Collins and Sean of repossessing gifts given to him during Zanu-PF's 2023 campaign, claims he now admits were fabricated.

"I remain apologetic for everything I said. Please forgive me Zimbabwe, please forgive me my Commander-in-Chief, my president, my brothers (Sean and Collins), my mother who is in a state of pain and disbelief, my wife who has been watching all this happening and trying to help me and our political party," he wrote.

The controversy has also strained his marriage. On Wednesday, his wife, Kimberly Richards, reportedly moved out of their Arlington home in Harare "for her own safety," according to a family friend.

Despite the turmoil, Holy Ten insisted he still viewed himself as "the leader of the youth," though he conceded the need to "rediscover the direction they need to be led in. The right one. I'm not going to inspire a nation of alcoholics."

Concerns over the rapper's health have mounted in recent months, with friends and associates describing him as violent, abusive, and in poor health due to heavy drinking. He is said to have been treated for pancreatitis and high blood pressure, conditions they feared could worsen without urgent intervention.

Holy Ten's rehabilitation marks a new chapter for one of Zimbabwe's most influential young artists, whose music has often been celebrated for its sharp social commentary but whose personal battles have increasingly overshadowed his career.