Greatman Arrested for Running Unlicensed Bar in Kuwadzana, Says ‘I’m Just Trying to Survive’

HARARE – Popular musician Greatman, real name Tongai Gwaze, has been arrested for operating a bar without a licence in Kuwadzana, with police confiscating all alcohol from the premises.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Gwaze confirmed he was being held at Kuwadzana 2 Police Station after officers raided the business.

“Yes, I am human and I make mistakes,” he wrote in Shona. “But sometimes I am just trying to survive.”

The singer said he opened the small bar to earn a living amid difficult economic conditions.

“You all see how I hustle in town. When I get a bit of money, I thought, let me open a small bar so I can also afford basics,” he said.

According to Gwaze, police arrived while he was away in Kuwadzana 3 donating a wheelchair. He said officers detained his employee and removed all crates of beer.

“No one is even trying to understand me,” he wrote. “I am cold, and I don’t know what to do. Just let me earn a living here in Zimbabwe. My heart is broken. Why me? How am I supposed to survive in our country?”

In a follow-up statement on Sunday afternoon, Gwaze accepted responsibility for running the bar without the required permits.

“That was very wrong, and I take full responsibility,” he wrote.

He commended the Zimbabwe Republic Police for their conduct. “To ZRP Zimbabwe: You did your job, and you did it very well. No one is above the law. I was arrested, and the crates of beer were taken for the State,” he said.

Gwaze also used the post to caution other informal traders. “My plea to you: If you have a small or big bar out there, please do not operate without the proper licences. Let my situation be an example,” he said.

The musician said he is now home with his wife and children but is struggling financially. “I have not had even $1 to buy bread since yesterday. I am really hungry and struggling to find food,” he wrote.

Greatman, known for songs including Pandakazvarwa, is also recognised for disability advocacy work and has donated wheelchairs to people in need. He has frequently spoken about the challenges artists face earning a living in Zimbabwe.

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