Police Deny Arrest Of Musician Sulumani Chimbetu Over Grace Mugabe ‘Proposal’ Rumours
Sensational social media claims that artist Sulumani Chimbetu was detained for supposedly proposing to former First Lady Grace Mugabe have been formally denied by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
The Dendera musician reportedly approached Grace Mugabe with love intentions during a chance encounter in Mazowe on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, according to stories that went viral on social media sites like X and WhatsApp. The posters further claimed that Sulumani was arrested after Grace reported him for harassment at a Harare police station. These unsubstantiated claims sparked a lot of online discussion and conjecture.
Police Deny Arrest Of Musician Sulumani Chimbetu Over Grace Mugabe ‘Proposal’ Rumours
Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the police spokesperson, quickly refuted these claims, though. Speaking to the media, he categorically declared that no information or complaint regarding such an incident had been received by law enforcement. “We are warning people who are abusing social media, but we never received such a report.” Nyathi said, highlighting the ZRP’s worry over the spread of lies on the internet.
In an interview with ZimLive, Chimbetu personally denied the claims, adding his voice to the chorus of rejection. The musician emphasised that he had no recent contact with Grace Mugabe and had never made any sexual overtures to her, calling the report completely nasty and unfounded. “I’m just observing the posts and messages on the accusations going viral. It’s untrue. He told reporters, “There has never been anything like that, and these are just people trying to create content in a bad way.”
Importantly, authorities verified that there are no records at any Harare police station that show such a complaint was ever filed. This absence of official documentation emphasises the risks associated with spreading false information and further damages the gossip’s credibility.
The case also highlights more general worries about the quick dissemination of inaccurate or deceptive content online, especially in Zimbabwe, where a number of public personalities have recently been the focus of unsubstantiated allegations. The importance of artificial intelligence-generated disinformation has been highlighted by observers, who advise users to apply caution and critical thinking before broadly disseminating anything.
Experts in digital safety expressed concern about the expanding practice. “The misuse of digital platforms to disseminate fake news, particularly through artificial intelligence and unverified content, poses serious legal and ethical concerns,” one expert cautioned. Commentators emphasised that these false statements might jeopardise individual reputations and have practical repercussions for the individuals who are the focus of them
Son of the late, well-known singer Simon Chimbetu, Chimbetu has mostly kept a low profile in recent years, focusing on his music and his family. However, the rumours briefly exposed him to unwelcome attention and conjecture.
Grace Mugabe, who just celebrated her 60th birthday with a private party, has not addressed the accusations in public. Official law enforcement sources and media requests for her reply have not yet provided any confirmation or denial of the rumours.
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In conclusion, the narrative that Sulumani Chimbetu was arrested for proposing to Grace Mugabe is unsubstantiated. Authorities and Chimbetu have rejected the claim as malicious and untrue because there are no police records, no official complaints, and the musician has made a categorical denial. This incident is yet another example of how social media speculation—often fuelled by sensationalism—can quickly spread false narratives. Authorities continue to urge the public to verify news and avoid contributing to the dissemination of unverified content that can harm individuals and defame reputations.
