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WHY can’t our celebrities resist domestic violence?
This is a cancer which appears to stalk many of those who appear to have struck gold either in showbiz or sport.
Domestic violence isn’t limited to physical abuse only.
It can manifest in many different ways.
Many of Zimbabwe’s celebrities have found themselves entangled in domestic violence cobwebs.
And, here are some of them:
l SEH CALAZ
In 2017, dancehall musician, Seh Calaz appeared at Mbare Magistrates’ Court accused of bashing his then girlfriend, Moira Knight.
After the case, Moira contemplated leaving him to re-join her family in the United Kingdom.
Calaz received a backlash for acting in a way which was different from what he sings about.
This was after he had released a song Musarove. denouncing violence in his debut album, Bandit Rebirth.
He sang:“Babie rangu harisi reku boxer, haufe wakandiona ndichimusofa. Vanhu ava havana kusimba, havadi kurwiswa chavanoda kudiwa. Kudiwa newako usamushushe, paatadzwa usamurove, tauriranai, gadzirisanai.
“Ukatungamidza hasha, kana kufurirwa neshamwari unomukuvadza.”
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l TYTAN AND OLINDA
In 2019, musician Njabulo ‘Tytan’ Nkomo made some startling revelations that he was a victim of domestic abuse after his marriage with socialite Olinda Chapel ended.
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l STUNNER
Last year, rapper Desmond ‘Stunner’ Chideme appeared in court for allegedly bashing his wife, Dyonne Tafirenyika. He was, however, acquitted of the charge.
The magistrate ruled that Dyonne’s evidence to support her claim that she was assaulted by Stunner was weak to the extent that a reasonable court would not convict the musician.
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l DJ FANTAN
Last year, DJ Fantan was arrested and appeared in court after his ex-wife, Gamuchirai Nemukuyu, lodged a complaint with the police for domestic violence.
He appeared in the Mbare Magistrates’ Court.
However, the charges were withdrawn before plea.
This development came after Gamuchirai deposed an affidavit stating that she was no longer interested in pursuing the matter.
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l JEROME AND NERISSA
At the weekend, South Africa-based Zimbabwean actor Jerome Galiao was accused by his wife, Nerissa, of bashing her.
She reported the matter to the police and he appeared in the Randburg Magistrates’ Court in Johannesburg.
The 38-year-old actor, who stars in South African soap, Scandal, as Dr Nyasha Mugari, was granted bail after his wife consented to it.
But, he remained in custody after he failed to pay the money.
He will be back in court on April 17.
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l OTHERS
Other celebrities who have also been involved in domestic violence include the late Soul Jah Love and Bounty Lisa, Ti Gonzi and Whitney Masike, Enzo Ishall, Tino Katsande, Roki and Nyasha Valerie.
Online Reporter