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Tafadzwa Zimoyo Senior Lifestyle Writer

Is there a celebrity cloning facility out there, somewhere?

Of course, forget about doing a double-take — the unbelievable new crop of celebrity doppelgängers will have you checking three times. 

Just look through the craziest celeb lookalikes and cast your vote to see if others agree with your opinion on whether or not they really look like their idols.

Well, the Zimbabwean social scene has all of a sudden been hit by a wave of pretenders, people who are imitating some departed celebrities.

Again earning a living by resembling someone famous is a strange business.

Certainly, the career of a celebrity lookalike is not for the easily disheartened, it is an unstable or fickle industry by its very nature. 

At no time is your fate really your own, but instead it is that of the celeb you happen to be impersonating. 

Fashions change and scandals break.

It is now a norm in Zimbabwe that every few weeks or so, a celebrity lookalike pops up on social media, leaving everyone stunned. 

Surely, makeup, clothes, and good lighting do wonders when convincing people you look like a certain celebrity, but there are some lookalikes out there who don’t need any of that. 

They were just born with features that are strikingly similar to some of your favourites.

In fact, the local showbiz landscape will never run short of drama, and we have characters who can go to extremes by imitating top celebrities’ lifestyle.

But this new breed of imposters imitating top celebrities has literary taken over the showbiz landscape.

And they seem not to be slowing down, as they imitate their idols, especially the departed ones.

Those with a fertile memory will always remember a city dealer who dresses and talks like Freeman.

Ladies would throw themselves at him for ‘selfie’ moments, others being duped into relationships on the pretex they were dating the real celebrity.

Some claim the Freeman imposter has duped them of their cash and other valuables.

Then there is this Zimdancehall chanter going by the moniker “Chipoko chaSauro”.

He is immensely talented and tries hard to be like the late Soul Jah Love, who was known in misic circles as Sauro.

The chanter has gone to the extent of sporting a blue suit, which was the late Soul Jah Love’s favourite.

He also walks with the same gait that Chibaba used to have.

And his antics are beginning to pay.

“Chipoko chaSauro” clinched a collaboration with sungura musician Panganayi “Mukoma Panga” Hare on a single track “Sadza neMhiripiri”, which has been on the National FM and Radio Zimbabwe top 20 charts for many weeks.

On the song, “Chipoko chaSauro” imitates the late Soul Jah Love’s voice and it comes out perfectly well, hence the popularity of the song.

Then there is also this new character going by the moniker, Ginimbilite, who has been trying hard to fit in the late Harare socialite’s lifestyle.

Many have been wondering who this Ginimbilite is and where he came from.

His rise to prominence has also been under spot.

Ginimbilite gave this publication a brief profile of himself.

“My name is Brian Goshomi and my rural home is Masvingo,” he said. “I am 28 years old and we are three boys in my family and l am the last one. 

“My parents are late. I grew up in Marondera and l did my primary school at St Ludger and my high school at Glen View High 1 in Harare.”

On his claim to fame, Ginimbilite said: “My claim to fame is being the late Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure’s lookalike. Not only that, I am person of many gifts and talents.

“l enrolled and completed a journalism course at the Christian College of Southern Africa (CCOSA). I’m also a professional DJ and my playlist was once voted as the best during the Econet competition for DJs. 

“The name Ginimbilite came from the streets, see, l work in the streets so that is where the name came from. It all started in 2018 when people would say l look like Ginimbi. It was further fuelled by my lifestyle.”

On his role mode, Ginimbilite was blunt.

“The late Genius Kadungure is my role model because of his background,” he said. “He started off from the bottom and made his way to the top such that by the time he passed away, everyone knew his name, so that is what l want for myself. 

“l want to be a person everyone knows. So we might not have been related biologically, but we were related through dreams, visions and ambitions.”

Ginimbilite has also given his honest assessment on his view on Zimbabwean showbiz.

“The showbiz scene is doing well and l have no complaints,” he said. “However, it is a tough industry to penetrate and most people side line you and are not really open to giving you a chance at first glance. But so far it’s been good to me. l have no complaints.”

Asked why he was imitating the late Ginimbi, Ginimbilite had this to say: “I am not imitating the late Ginimbi, l am living my life as someone who was inspired by him. 

“There is a big difference between the two. I don’t want to replace him, he was unique in his own way, he wrote his own story and as someone who was inspired by him I’m writing my own story in my own way. 

“l am not trying to replace Ginimbi. l’m not trying to be Boss G, l’m trying to be Ginimbilite and it’s an honour to be carrying this name.”

Asked whether or not he was in touch with Ginimbi’s family or Zodwa, the former wife of the late businessman, he said: “I haven’t spoken with Zodwa yet, but l have been in contact with his Ginimbi’s sister Nelia.

“Last month it was her birthday and she hosted an all-black party at her nightclub, Dreamz. l was one of the VIP guests there. I have so much respect for her that I salute her since she is doing well business wise and also keeping the late Ginimbi’s legacy alive.

“l would like people to remember me the same way people remember Ginimbi. I would like to be remembered as someone who inspired people, someone who made a difference in people’s lives. 

“If we look at Boss G, the guy is dead, but his legacy is still alive, l mean l’m here doing an interview with you because his life inspired me. 

“’And l want to inspire others as well to dream big, take risks and don’t be afraid. I’m letting you know that good things take time, but they do happen.”

Like any other person, Ginimbilite said he trusted his inner circle.

“I have a lot of friends, they have been my support system and I appreciate them,” he said. “I can’t mention them all. Yes, after popping champagne l go to church. The beauty of God is that His house is always open for everyone, me included.”

Besides being an aspiring celebrity, Ginimbilite has people that he looks up to.

“My local favourite celebrity is Jackie Ngarande, because she showed me that it’s possible, she believed in me the first time l met her, so she is my favourite.”