HARARE – Zimdancehall musician Ezbornwage Chidamajaya, popularly known as Hulengende, has been released after two complainants withdrew fraud and assault cha...
HARARE – Zimdancehall musician Ezbornwage Chidamajaya, popularly known as Hulengende, has been released after two complainants withdrew fraud and assault charges against him during police vetting.
Hulengende was arrested at the weekend while performing at the Harare edition of the Doek & Slay event at Glamis Arena. The musician had been facing allegations of fraud and assault, according to The Herald.
The latest development means the charges against Hulengende did not proceed after both complainants withdrew their complaints during the vetting process. The Herald reported that the musician was released after the withdrawals.
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Hulengende’s arrest came shortly after he and his wife, fellow Zimdancehall performer Malloti, performed at the Doek & Slay event in Harare. Their arrest was reported by several Zimbabwean news outlets following the weekend incident.
The Herald reported that Hulengende was arrested over allegations of fraud and assault. The newspaper’s latest report, however, does not provide further details about the specific allegations made by the two complainants or the circumstances surrounding the alleged offences.
The withdrawal of the complaints occurred during the police vetting process, according to the latest report. As a result, Hulengende was freed rather than being taken forward on the reported allegations.
The arrest followed reports of disputes between the musicians and event organisers over performances and deposits. New Zimbabwe reported that Hulengende and Malloti had been arrested shortly after performing at the Glamis Arena event, amid allegations that the pair had failed to honour some performances after receiving deposits from promoters.
Those earlier allegations formed part of a series of concerns surrounding the performers’ engagements with event organisers. However, the latest Herald report specifically identifies the charges leading to Hulengende’s arrest as fraud and assault and states that both complainants withdrew them during vetting.
The release does not amount to a finding of guilt or innocence by a court. Hulengende was accused of offences, but the complainants withdrew their charges before the matter proceeded further through the criminal justice process.
The development brings an immediate end to the latest detention of the musician. It also separates the current matter from other issues involving Hulengende and Malloti that have previously been reported in the media.
In June, The Herald reported that Hulengende and Malloti had been implicated in a road traffic accident in Kariba in which a pregnant woman was injured. Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said at the time that investigations were continuing into the circumstances of the accident.
That earlier incident was separate from the fraud and assault allegations that resulted in Hulengende’s latest arrest. Police had not announced arrests or charges in connection with the Kariba accident in the report published on June 29.
Hulengende and Malloti have also remained active in Zimbabwe’s entertainment industry during the year. In April, The Herald reported on Hulengende’s performance at an Independence Night event in Bulawayo.
Earlier in February, the couple also attracted attention after withdrawing from a United Kingdom music event. Nehanda Radio reported that Malloti declined to apologise over comments about Zimbabwean nurse aides in the UK and chose to withdraw from the Y2K SAMA Festival, with Hulengende also withdrawing in solidarity.
The latest case, however, concerns the circumstances surrounding Hulengende’s arrest at the Doek & Slay event in Harare. According to The Herald, both complainants withdrew the allegations during vetting, leading to his release.
The report does not state whether the two complainants gave reasons for withdrawing their charges. It also does not indicate whether any further investigation will take place following the withdrawals.
No additional charges against Hulengende were identified in the latest Herald report. The newspaper reported that he had been arrested on allegations of fraud and assault and subsequently freed after both complainants withdrew the charges during vetting.
The case has therefore ended at the police vetting stage based on the information currently available. There has been no reported court trial or conviction relating to the fraud and assault allegations mentioned in the latest report.
Hulengende’s release comes only days after the arrest, which followed his performance at the Harare edition of Doek & Slay. The event was held at Glamis Arena, where the musician was arrested after performing.
For now, the latest confirmed development is that the Zimdancehall musician is no longer in custody following the withdrawal of the two complaints. The Herald reported that both complainants withdrew their charges during vetting, resulting in his release.
The development closes the latest criminal case involving Hulengende without the allegations proceeding to a court hearing, based on the information provided by the newspaper. Any further action would depend on developments communicated by police or other relevant authorities.
Hulengende, whose real name is Ezbornwage Chidamajaya, remains a known figure in Zimbabwe’s Zimdancehall music scene. His latest arrest and subsequent release have drawn attention because they occurred immediately after his performance at a major Harare entertainment event.
The latest report does not provide further information on the status of Malloti in relation to the incident. It focuses on Hulengende, the allegations of fraud and assault, the withdrawal of the complaints and his subsequent release.
