Online Reporter
Bruce Ndlovu
Society Reporter
Drug and substance abuse has become a serious national challenge and the showbiz industry has not been spared.
In fact, it appears to be one of the most affected, as artistes are exposed to all sorts of alcohol and substances on a daily basis due to the nature of their work and the places they usually hang out.
The temptation has been too much for some creatives to resist, as evidenced by the number of cases involving artistes and drugs that have recently made headlines.
Zimdancehall singer Ras Pompy, real name Nyasha Reginald Mano, was arrested and sentenced to six months in jail for unlawful possession of restricted medicines in July 2025.
Sungura singer Paradzai Mesi is on record acknowledging his battle with alcoholism.
While some creatives are yet to be arrested, their wayward conduct — presumably after using drugs or consuming too much alcohol — has had the nation talking.
There has been a call for the country to intensify its fight against drug and substance abuse, especially among artistes.
Only two months ago, rapper Holy Ten checked into a rehabilitation centre, seeking to exorcise the demons that had been plaguing him for the last few years.
Erratic and riotous behaviour had become synonymous with one of Zimbabwean entertainment’s few true showmen, who, before he packed his bags for rehab, seemed to be losing his grip on both decency and reality.
Earlier, another maverick, Saintfloew, also made a headline-grabbing splash after he decided to seek help for his longstanding problems at a rehabilitation facility in South Africa.
At numerous times, the late chanter Soul Jah Love also repeatedly sought help, including divine intervention, as he tried to fight off his well-documented troubles.
Showbiz, both at home and abroad, seems to have its fair share of drug and substance abuse victims.
Rapper ASAPH, who has previously confessed to struggling with substance abuse, told The Sunday Mail Society that artistes in Zimbabwe were particularly vulnerable to addiction.
As people who usually perform late at night in front of intoxicated audiences, artistes often find themselves indulging in the same substances consumed by their fans.
Alcohol and drugs, he said, are usually not far from reach for top performers.
“I have been in the industry for a while and I have seen people, even myself, have challenges with issues relating to substance abuse,” he said.
“Yes, there is a feeling that sometimes this is just a part of the industry because we are performing mostly for intoxicated people and then it is expected that we also indulge as well. It is a part of the culture, and the thought is that your creativity and confidence get a boost from it.”
While some think that life in showbiz is all glitz and glamour, ASAPH noted that artistes at the top usually face a lot of pressure, including the desire to shrug off stage fright when they step on stage.
“On the other hand, people start partaking in this just because of anxiety,” he explained.
“There is pressure to make it, pressure to keep up appearances, or just the pressure to ignore the naysayers and the doubters. All of that is in the mix when it comes to artistes.”
While drug awareness campaigns are now prevalent in the country, ASAPH said such outreach might not be effective for artistes, who require a certain level of privacy that the ordinary person might not necessarily need.
“There are campaigns geared towards nipping this scourge in the bud, but when it comes to artistes, I feel that some level of privacy, just to protect an artiste’s dignity, is required,” he said.
“An artiste needs to feel comfortable going somewhere and getting help. In this day and age, things get sensationalised, and you start to hear that so-and-so is in rehab. It starts chipping away at the dignity of a person.”
He argues that someone going through rehabilitation needs protection so they can focus on recovery.
“Once victory is attained, they can come out and advocate for the process and tell people how they did it. I think sometimes we end up putting a magnifying glass on the start of the process,” he said.
Fellow musician Mzoe 7 said artistes are often overlooked, as most campaigns are not targeted at their specific and unique needs.
“I do not think the issue is being addressed in the industry,” he noted. “We did a series called ‘Majida Let’s Talk.’ We reached out to everyone, including artistes, but we can only do so much.
“Those things need resources because it is difficult to move from place to place without financial backup. When you are doing things from your own pocket, it gets a little difficult.”
Mzoe 7 stated that while there is a tendency to adopt a holier-than-thou attitude towards artistes who become addicted, there needs to be more understanding of the reasons they use these substances as a crutch to cope with their problems.
“With substance abuse, I do not think we can focus on one group exclusively,” he said.
“You cannot say, ‘We are now going to look at artistes.’ This is something that has to be addressed for everyone. If we look at musicians exclusively, we will have a big problem because you will have to ask, what about the dancers? What about the people in film? What about the people who look up to the musicians themselves?
“We need to address those issues that lead people into substance abuse. We need to reach out and talk about relationships, about money and other things that are leading artistes down that path. That is how we beat this thing.”
Veteran musician Jeys Marabini said young artistes today faced unique challenges that past generations never had to confront, and thus, strategies needed to be tailored for their specific needs.
“Every generation has its struggle, and probably drugs and substance abuse are the main threats to this generation,” he said.
“They are not insulated from the problem that is affecting the rest of the country.
“In the 1990s, the challenge was probably HIV/AIDS, and there was a concerted campaign to raise awareness, especially among artistes who are always on the road.
“This saved a lot of lives. I think we need something similar again because the drug problem is getting worse, particularly in the music industry.”
