Protest music has made a return to the airwaves sparked by last week's brutal crackdown by security forces against civilians.
Leading the pack is popular Zimbabwe dancehall musician Tocky Vibes (real name Obey Makamure), whose pregnant wife was allegedly assaulted by security forces.
In a new single released this week and titled Zviri Nani, which loosely translates to "it's better", the musician condemns the use of brutal force.
"Tocky has been observing elderly mothers being beaten, street kids, the handicapped and blind being assaulted," said Elijah Madamombe, the musician's publicist. "All these people are vulnerable and mostly victims of circumstances. His pregnant wife was also a victim. She was teargassed in the past unrest. So emotions have been building and he felt he should address it the best way he knows how, which is music."
Human rights groups estimate that 12 people have died, 78 have been treated for gunshot wounds and more than 600 arrested during and after the three-day stayaway.
The protest songs, however, have resulted in the musicians becoming targets.
Another popular dancehall artist, Winky D (real name Wallace Chirumiko), is in hiding as he fears for his life after releasing a politically sensitive single last November titled Kasong Kejecha("spoiling things").
The song is widely viewed as being sympathetic to the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which coined the phrase kudira jecha (pouring sand), and is meant to frustrate Zanu-PF's programmes.
Winky's manager, Jonathan Banda, this week said it was difficult for him to comment on the sensitive matter. "I think what people should take note of is what happened in Kwekwe," he said.
Winky D abandoned his show at Solomons nightclub in Kwekwe after he was attacked, allegedly by youths sympathetic to the ruling party. They viewed his show as praising the MDC and an attack on President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The musician has cancelled all his future shows.
Others in the music sector, such as producer Joe Machingura, have taken to social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to condemn the security crackdowns.
He urged musicians to use their skills to be the "voice of the voiceless".
Veteran musician Hosiah Chipanga said musicians bore the responsibility of being social commentators. "I'm saddened by what happened. I strongly feel we are lost as a nation. I feel pity for the people of Zimbabwe. I strongly feel that as musicians we have a duty to use our talents to address our challenges," he said.
Award-winning urban grooves singer Cindy Munyavi said it was difficult to compose party songs as protest music was currently the in thing.
Protest music was embodied by musicians such as Thomas Mapfumo, Leonard Zhakata and Chipanga.
Viewed as anti-establishment, their music often was either banned from the airwaves or their shows cancelled, and they faced arbitrary arrest.
It was only after the removal of Robert Mugabe as president in November 2017 that Mapfumo, who was in self-imposed exile in the US, returned to the country...