DJ TOWERS IN CONTROVERSY OVER "ADVANCE RIP" PASSION JAVA POST

HARARE -ZANU-PF social media personality and Wicknell Chivayo car beneficiary Tawanda Marimbe, popularly known as DJ Towers, has sparked outrage on social media after posting what many have interpreted as an advance death wish for several high-profile figures.

In a post accompanied by a photo of himself posing in front of a white Toyota Fortuner bearing registration AGV 3636 - one of the vehicles believed to be from Chivayo's car donation scheme - DJ Towers wrote:

_"Life is short seShort rangu re ZANU PF, RIP Mr & Mrs Chivayo nema Pilots, RIP Ginimbi, RIP vaMugabe and RIP Panganai"_

The post has been widely shared on Facebook and WhatsApp groups.

*Who is Panganai?*

According to followers who commented on the post, the name "Panganai" used by DJ Towers refers to controversial preacher and ZANU-PF affiliate Passion Java, whose real name is Panganai Java. DJ Towers appears to be sending a premature condolence message to Java while he is still alive.

The post also mentions "Mr & Mrs Chivayo and Pilots" - an apparent reference to businessman Wicknell Chivayo, who gifted DJ Towers and several other ZANU-PF loyalists vehicles in the past two years. The mention of Ginimbi and former President Robert Mugabe, both of whom are deceased, alongside living figures has left many social media users confused and concerned.

*Social Media Reaction*

The post, which shows DJ Towers shirtless with what appears to be a traditional substance smeared on his chest and wearing ZANU-PF branded shorts, has drawn mixed reactions.

Some supporters of the ruling party have described it as a joke taken too far, while others have condemned it as a direct threat and a sign of internal divisions among ZANU-PF beneficiaries.

DJ Towers, who rose to fame for his energetic support for ZANU-PF during the 2023 elections, has not yet issued a clarification on what prompted the post.

Neither Wicknell Chivayo nor Passion Java had responded to the post at the time of publishing.