Zimbabwean authorities have stopped South African musician and television actor Sipho "Psyfo" Ngwenya from performing there.

The rapper, who plays Ajax Khoza in the TV soap Generations, was sent back to South Africa on his arrival at Harare international airport on Friday.

Immigration officers at the airport are said to have been spooked by the video-recording equipment he had with him.

Though the country recently relaxed its media laws, officials remain touchy about visitors' video cameras and laptops.

When Ngwenya explained that he had several shows lined up, and a music video shoot, immigration officials demanded a work permit.

The musician did not have one and was denied entry.

Ngwenya's weekend shows, which had been lined up for Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, had to be cancelled when the star was sent packing.

A local newspaper quoted the promoters as saying efforts to save the shows at the weekend failed because the authorities refused to change their position.

By The Times (SA)