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Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
A WAR of lifestyles has emerged between Zimbabweans in the Diaspora and those at home with both parties sharing videos showing off their lavish lifestyles on social media networks.
The videos being recorded under the theme “Zvinhu Zvirikufaya” (things are going well) are a celebration of success. They show Zimbabweans abroad, mainly in the UK, Dubai, Canada, and Australia driving luxurious cars, attending luxurious parties on boats – bragging that they are living the good life.
However, a few videos have been circulating from Zimbabweans in South Africa, leaving one wondering if things are rosy there like their fellow Diasporians.
On the videos, diasporians vow that there is no reason to come back home as they are experiencing the life most Zimbabweans only see on television.
One of the videos shows a Dubai-based Zimbabwean clad in an Arab Thawb attire dancing to Zim Dancehall music in his luxurious car with a drop top roof.
He brags about how he starts work at 10AM, breaks a few hours later for lunch and still makes a lot of money, with many Arabs wanting to be associated with him. Some videos show the Diasporians bragging about how they have platefuls of chicken wings, yet Zimbabweans have at least two each.
The concept of the videos is said to have begun when business mogul Phillip Chiyangwa posted a video of himself bragging about his Bentley and its facilities when he was travelling to Bulawayo for a public lecture.
It seems locals felt challenged by Chiyangwa as people have been recording themselves in flashy cars since then.
Of late, the videos which are being released by locals seem to be a response to those released by the Diasporians.
The bulk of them running under theme Hatiuyiko are a way to prove to Diasporians that there is no reason for them to leave the country for greener pastures.
On one of the clips, three women record themselves travelling to Mutare for the weekend – showing the beauty of the city before having a five course breakfast with muesli. The clip ends with them telling Diasporans that they are not interested in staying abroad saying: “Hatiuyiko” (we won’t come there).
The videos which have been circulating for over a month have seen the birth of a Facebook page Zvinhu Zvirikufaya trending under the hashtag Zvirikufaya on Twitter.
The Zvinhu Zvirikufaya page which has been in existence for a month, is fast growing with more than 11,800 likes, as of yesterday. The name of the page Zvinhu Zvirikufaya, meaning things are going well, aptly describes both parties’ lifestyle and the videos are just a competition of showing off between Diasporans and locals.
However, people have expressed mixed feelings over the videos with some saying they depict a plastic life, which does not truly reflect how people are living in Zimbabwe and the Diaspora. Some have said rich people do not brag about their riches.
Zimbabweans who left the country for greener pastures are said to be living below the poverty datum line in their respective countries. They are viewed as people who are earning a living by being nurse aids at old people’s homes who clean up after their ageing patients.
Facebook user, Barbara Nyagomo wrote: “Zimbabwe Selfie video series “Zvirikufaya” further widens the class divisions between people in the Diaspora and those at home.
“Where is the humour in being materialistic and showing off what you have while others are scrambling to get food, school fees, hospital fees etc.”
Nomathemba Primrose Ndebele wrote: “While I have respect for everyone . . . Sophistication is sophistication. Class is class. You will never see Lance Guma’s Zvirikufaya video though we know he is living large in the UK.”
Some on the other hand have welcomed the videos applauding them as a form of satire that offers an escape from everyday hardships.
The videos are now the talk in town with most people wanting to record their own videos.
Meanwhile,T-shirts encrypted “Hameno kuti zvinhu zvacho zviri kufamba sei” have taken the market by storm after audio clips containing that tag line went viral.
Online Reporter