Summary: Detained but Undeterred: Zimbabwe’s Makesure Choga Fights for Justice Through Art and Activism

Citizen journalist and theatre activist Makesure Choga spent seven months in detention without trial for exposing corruption and defending human rights. From protest music to political theatre, his fearless work continues to challenge repression and inspire civic action across Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwean Activist Turns to Art and Journalism to Challenge Political Power

HARARE – When Makesure Choga walked free from a Zimbabwean prison in late 2019 after seven months of detention without trial, he emerged not subdued but emboldened. The citizen journalist and activist had been arrested for his outspoken criticism of government corruption and human rights abuses—a move rights groups say was aimed at silencing dissent.

“I was never charged, never tried,” Choga told GH in a phone interview. “But I knew the cost of speaking out. I chose to pay it.”

Choga, 42, is the founder of the Mbizo Community Theatre Group, a grassroots initiative that uses drama, music, and storytelling to promote civic education and social justice. From village stages to urban youth centres, his performances have tackled electoral violence, corruption, and the erosion of democratic freedoms. Mbizo is a high-density suburb in Kwekwe, the home of Zimbabwe’s current President, Emerson Mnangagwa.

In 2023, he released a protest-themed music album titled HUTSINYE, amplifying his message through song. “Art is resistance,” he said. “It reaches where speeches and manifestos cannot.”

His activism has not been confined to the stage. In 2018, Choga ran as an independent candidate for the Mbizo parliamentary seat, challenging Zimbabwe’s dominant party system. Though unsuccessful, his campaign was widely seen as a bold attempt to reclaim political space for grassroots voices.

Choga’s journalism—self-taught and often published online—focuses on governance failures and state repression. His book, The Coup President’s Rule: A True Story of Zimbabwe, which is yet to be published, chronicles the country’s political trajectory since the 2017 military-assisted transition.

The leaked book triggered renewed threats, forcing him into hiding earlier this year. “In May this year, I was forced to go into hiding after my book was leaked before it was published. At that time, the state security team was hunting for me,” Makesure Choga told us in an interview.

Rights watchdog Front Line Defenders lists Choga among Zimbabwe’s most at-risk activists. “He has faced arbitrary detention, surveillance, and repeated harassment,” the group said in a 2024 report. “His case reflects the broader crackdown on civic actors.”

During his 2019 detention, Choga was held without formal charges, denied legal counsel, and subjected to psychological intimidation. “They wanted me to stop writing, stop organizing,” he said. “But silence is complicity.”

Despite the risks, Choga continues to mobilize communities through Mbizo Theatre and digital platforms.

“I’m not a hero,” Choga said. “I’m just a citizen who refuses to be afraid.”