By CloutBase | Harare July 1, 2026

South African music duo Mafikizolo will no longer perform at the Buddie Beatz Concert in Victoria Falls after weeks of growing backlash from Zimbabweans who argued that the show was poorly timed amid rising anti-immigration tensions in South Africa.

The award-winning Khona hitmakers had been scheduled to headline the July 5 event, which forms part of the entertainment activities surrounding the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon.

However, organisers have quietly removed the duo from promotional material, with Econet Wireless Zimbabwe also taking down social media posts that previously featured the pair, effectively confirming their exit from the line-up.

No official statement explaining the decision had been released at the time of publication, but sources familiar with the matter say security concerns and the increasingly heated public debate influenced the move.

The controversy erupted as reports of anti-foreigner protests and calls for a nationwide anti-immigration shutdown in South Africa dominated conversations on both sides of the border, prompting many Zimbabweans to question whether hosting South African performers at this moment was appropriate.

Social media users, entertainers and commentators openly called for the concert booking to be reconsidered, arguing that the country should prioritise solidarity with Zimbabweans affected by the developments in South Africa.

Comedienne Felistas “Mai TT” Murata was among the prominent voices who criticised the timing of the event, saying celebrations should take a back seat while fellow citizens faced uncertainty across the border.

Musician and entertainer Bruce Ncube also addressed Mafikizolo directly, insisting that Zimbabweans still hold affection for the group but that the current climate made the performance difficult to support.

He noted that the duo had always enjoyed a warm reception in Zimbabwe and should not be blamed personally for accepting a booking, but argued that the situation demanded empathy and solidarity rather than entertainment.

Others went further, calling on local promoters to temporarily suspend bookings for South African artistes until tensions ease.

Not everyone agreed with the backlash, however. Some fans defended Mafikizolo, maintaining that musicians should not be held responsible for political developments and that music should remain a bridge between communities rather than become another source of division.

Despite the removal of the South African stars, the Buddie Beatz Concert is still expected to go ahead with a strong local line-up featuring Winky D, Killer T, Flying Bantu and other Zimbabwean acts.