Zimbabweans got excited earlier on Tuesday when news that Zimdancehall sensation Freeman had been invited by police for questioning over his close ties to an armed robber.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed that Emergy Chizanga, popularly known as Freeman, was questioned by CID Homicide on Tuesday morning but has since been released.
Freeman addressed the situation in a statement through his lawyer Dumisani Mthombeni and set the facts straight. Speaking to H-Metro, Mthombeni explained that his client was invited for questioning due to social media pictures linking him to Godknows Machingura, an armed robber who was fatally shot by detectives in a Harare shootout in December 2023.
The lawyer clarified the circumstances, saying,
“The case involving Godfrey Machingura generated a lot of public interest after H-Metro published an article last week wherein Freeman’s alleged association with the now deceased was discussed. Members of the public expressed their different views. This prompted the ZRP to invite him in for interviewing so as to explain himself and clarify his alleged association with the now deceased.”
Contrary to reports of Freeman’s arrest, Mthombeni emphasized that the artist voluntarily visited Harare Central Police Station. He stressed that Freeman is cooperating with the police as part of the investigative process.
“Freeman visited Harare Central this morning on his own contrary to some false social media reports that he has been picked up by police. He is currently assisting police with investigations as part of due process. He has been extremely cooperative as an innocent individual that he is. Police are simply doing their job, due process must be seen to be followed. We thank the police for the professionalism they have so far demonstrated and continue to demonstrate. We implore members of the public to be patient, not speculate falsehoods and allow the police to do their job,” Mthombeni said.
His lawyer maintained the chanter’s innocence saying,
“For the record Freeman is just but an innocent individual who has no business doing crime and is not involved in any criminal activities.”
