In Zimbabwe’s evolving political landscape, where promises of reform have yet to materialise, one unexpected force has emerged – comedy.
While official narratives speak of progress, social media tells a different story, one shaped by satire, memes and skits that turn national struggles into humour. But in a country where dissent carries risks, is laughter merely an escape, or is it a tool of resistance?
This question was central to an inaugural lecture delivered by North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Rodwell Makombe on 7 March 2025 at the Mahikeng Campus. His lecture was titled “Making sense of the Second Republic in Zimbabwe through laughter: the poetics and politics of resistance after Mugabe”.
Prof Makombe examined Zimbabwe’s post-Mugabe era (the Second Republic) through the lens of social media comedy, arguing that humour has become a defining feature of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership, much like intellectual debate and book culture characterised former President Robert Mugabe’s rule.
Prof Makombe focused on the work of four comedians, namely Kapfupi, Marabha, Doc Vikela and Sabhuku Vharazipi. The four comedians are popular in Zimbabwe, and they have significant following on social media.
“When Robert Mugabe was forced from power in a military-assisted coup in 2017, the moment was framed as a turning point – an end to tyranny and the beginning of political and economic renewal. Seven years later, little has changed. If anything, conditions have worsened,” he said.
New resistance
He noted that social media satire has become a critical space for resistance, allowing citizens to challenge authority in a climate where open criticism is often met with repression.
“Could it be a coincidence that comedy has eclipsed the book culture of the Mugabe era?” he asked.
Prof Makombe emphasised that humour in Zimbabwe is more than entertainment. “Politics and art are consubstantial,” he said, explaining
how satire exposes contradictions in governance and shapes public perception of the so-called Second Republic.
The lecture also placed Zimbabwe’s political humour in a historical context, drawing parallels between past and present forms of satirical resistance. By laughing at their struggles, Prof Makombe argued, Zimbabweans are not merely coping with hardship but also reclaiming the political narrative.
He left his audience with a final question: Can laughter help theorise the politics of Zimbabwe’s Second Republic? While it may not solve the country’s challenges, he suggested that it remains a powerful force, both as a mirror to reality and a tool of resistance.
About Prof Rodwell Makombe
Rodwell Makombe is a professor in the subject group English at the NWU. He holds a PhD from the University of Fort Hare as well as a master’s and honours degree in English from the University of Zimbabwe.
He has taught in University of Fort Hare, Durban University of Technology and the University of Free State. He has published over 40 journal articles and three books and supervised several postgraduate students. He has a C2 research rating from the National Research Foundation.
Prof Sonia Swanepoel, deputy vice-chancellor for community engagement and Mahikeng Campus operations, hands over the inaugural lecture certificate to Prof Rodwell Makombe.
