Winky D's producer leads Mnangagwa's 2030 choir

Renowned music producer Nicky Genius, known for crafting several hits for dancehall star Winky D, has emerged as the latest artist to publicly endorse the extension of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's tenure.

Genius, who has been performing at several ZANU-PF events attended by party officials and influential figures like Kudakwashe Tagwirei and Taurai Kandishaya, recently led a chorus backing the extension of Mnangagwa's presidency beyond 2028.

At one event, he led the crowd in singing:

"2030 baba varipo pachigaro. Pamberi na Va Mnangagwa. 2030 vanenge vachiripo"
(Translation: "2030 President Mnangagwa will still be reigning.")

Observers note the irony that Nicky Genius previously produced Winky D's socially conscious songs such as Patonaz and Zvatanga, which critique corruption and highlight the struggles of ordinary Zimbabweans. Despite this, he has now aligned with artists publicly supporting ZANU-PF.

Genius joins other musicians under the Musicians 4ED banner, a group mobilized to endorse Mnangagwa amid resurging party factionalism over his potential term extension.

Analysts suggest that celebrity support for ZANU-PF is often incentivized by the party's wealthy benefactors, including Wicknell Chivayo, Kudakwashe Tagwirei, and Paul Tungwarara, who have been providing substantial rewards to high-profile supporters.

This development underscores a growing trend of artists being drawn into partisan politics, particularly around debates over the extension of the presidential term.