How To Survive A Dictator With Munya Chawawa (Channel 4 Thursday 3 November 2022)

In order to film a documentary about Robert Mugabe, infamous Zimbabwean dictator, comedian Munya Chawawa wanted to go back to his native country. He had his travel arrangements made and his bags packed. His filming visas were then mysteriously revoked. without any justification. In an effort to carry on despite them, he is now making his way to South Africa to meet with Mugabe’s friends, family, victims, and henchmen.

Munya tries to uncover the man behind the monster by exploring an extraordinary life that saw Mugabe win independence for his people before ruling them with escalating brutality for four decades. To help viewers understand the story, interviews, archive footage, and comedic sketches are used.

Munya meets with some of Mugabe’s numerous victims, his nephews (who have a somewhat rosy view of Uncle Robert), his former friend Wilf, who broke with Mugabe after the massacre of 20,000 civilians, his spiritual advisor, and his nephews.

Finally, he squares off against a Mugabe ally who is alleged to have used brutal violence and intimidation. How to Survive a Dictator is a journey through the life of one of the most infamous dictators in history. It is funny, fascinating, and moving all at once.

Exec Prods: Morgan Roberts, Iain Wimbush; Dir: Paul Taylor; Prod Co: Rumpus

Airdate: Thursday 3 November 2022 at 10.00pm on Channel 4.