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Mpofu, aka Doc Vikela, has seen his followers
on YouTube channel Simuka Comedy grow from less than 1,000
subscribers in January when he ventured into political satire to
23,000 now.
The 34-year-old father of two is among a generation of online
stand-up comedians critical of government excesses.
Critics have accused Mnangagwa of reverting to the authoritarian
tendencies of the Robert Mugabe era amid a worsening economic
crisis.
In his skits, Mpofu assumes the character of Mnangagwa with a
trademark colourful scarf, at times mocking some of the
president's decisions.
"What we are simply saying is that there are problems. These
problems we are highlighting through our content. We say 'do you
feel we should continue going on like this'?" he said.
Critics, including church leaders and lawyers, have accused the
government of using the COVID-19 pandemic to trample on human
rights and of abducting and torturing opponents. The government
denies the accusations.
Mpofu says his comedy work is difficult "because you have the
fear of disappearing, you have the fear of being abducted.
"You don't know whether your content will touch on the right
nerve or wrong nerve so you always live in fear," he said.
In one skit, Mpofu, speaking as Mnangagwa, justifies naming his
deputy Constantino Chiwenga as health minister citing his
admission into foreign hospitals as experience for the job.
With inflation running at 837.5%, unemployment above 80% and a
collapsing public health sector, Zimbabweans are angry.
"So it is important for us to pack this into satire instead of
(people) drowning in depression, drowning into sorrow," said
Mpofu. "We give them humour, sometimes it's good to laugh."
(Editing by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo and Janet Lawrence)
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