The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube Entertainment Correspondent —
PROMINENT promoters in Mutare have called for unity of purpose and complement each other as well as desist from sabotaging each other for the development of the local arts industry.
Of late, most shows staged in the eastern border city have been flopping because they would be a flurry of events that will be happening simultaneously at different venues.
Promoters ended up sharing fans on December 23 after more than five major entertainment events took place in Mutare.
And if the truth be told, most of them flopped merely because of lack of communication. While Zim Dancehall sensation, Seh Calaz while performing on the same night, sungura maestro, Alick Macheso was performing at The Platinum.
Killer T and Kinnah were a stone throw away at Mutare Hall. Judgment Yard was performing at Barcode while there were other exhilarating entertainment activities in surrounding areas such as Kwababa Acho in the sprawling suburb of Sakubva, Manicaland Motoring Club, Villa Spot in Dangamvura and Legends in Chikanga.
Most of the shows failed, with the Killer T-Kinnah show taking the crown. However, local promoters interviewed expressed the need for unity, improvement of communication skills and working towards collectively developing the arts industry in the province.
“We are set to meet this month and devise ways on how we can work together and develop the arts industry in the province.
“It is high time we should sit down and complement each other’s efforts and help assist our friends in all possible ways.
There is no need for us to fight each other and there should be no room for sabotage among us.
“I am quite aware that some people out there would blame me for sabotaging them but I am here to work with any promoter for the betterment of the sector.
“We should unite. It will be detrimental for all of us to have shows on the same date,” said Isau Mupfumi, The Platinum owner.
Boniface Nyamanhindi, who has managed to turn his Club Mandisa into a formidable entertainment centre after hosting an different of artistes from across several genres, said the meeting was long overdue.
“We need to unite and work together. We will all record massive flops if we try to elbow each other out of business yet we are working towards one goal. We hopefully believe that if we work together, it will not only improve the arts industry but help mould our artistes who look up to us for assistance and guidance,” he said.
Givens Shumba, the owner of Suncity Bar, said unity among promoters will woo more revered artistes from outside Mutare.
The bar, fondly referred to by a legion of imbibers in the eastern border city as PaBako, has earned the respect of many in recent months albeit being located at the heart of the sprawling suburb of Sakubva.
“If we sabotage each other, then we will be shooting ourselves in the foot because at the end of the day it’s us who incur losses.
“We need each to work in unison and play a complementary role to lure more artistes in and out of Mutare. It is a great initiative for all of us,” he said.
