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From Melissa Mpofu in Harare
Organisers of the Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa) were left with an egg on their faces after their main act, Freshly Ground, were denied entry into the country and were deported at Harare International Airport yesterday. Though the festival organisers had spent the better part of the weekend seeking clearance for the band, talks collapsed yesterday when the band jetted into the country and the Zimbabwe immigration department refused to clear them to perform.
In 2010 the group released the song Chicken to change with the video depicting President Mugabe as a frail and ugly cartoon and urging him to “chinja” in apparent reference to MDC’s party slogan.
The same year, the group was forced to cancel a performance in Harare after the immigration department turned down their application for work permits.
Authorities are said to have been dismayed by Freshly Ground’s decision to take political sides and attempting to use their music to advance political goals, hence their decision to deny the group entry into the country.
Asked why the band had been deported, a Hifa official said they were still waiting for an official statement from the immigration department.
Organisers had to quickly assemble alternative bands including Jah Prayzah to perform in place of Freshly Ground after people had parted with $25 to watch the group.
derick.khumalo