Online Reporter
H-Metro Reporter
THE organisers of ZIMFEST 2025 have said they are looking into the feedback elated to the latest mega show which has torched a storm after some of the guests turned up scantily dressed in Hertfordshire on Saturday it has led some to describe the party as ‘BUMFEST.’
Some women chose to wear clothes which revealed parts of their bums.
The organisers have also dismissed reports that they were fined after some of the party-goers decided to “defecate” on the open fields where the show was held, instead of the toilets.
“Thank you to everyone who made ZIMFEST 2025 unforgettable,” they said in a statement.
“It was incredible to see so many happy, respectful and vibrant faces come together to celebrate our culture.
“Just to clarify, no fine was issued to the organisers and we’re proud of how well everyone represented the country.
“We are listening to your feedback as we work to improve and grow. Let’s keep the good vibes going. See you at the next one ZIMFEST 2026.”
But, the dominant theme remained the controversy over the way some of the women chose to dress themselves.
Here are some of the comments which appeared online.
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Public decency and respect should take precedence over personal desires. The conversation about public representation isn’t just about what one gender thinks; it’s about the collective values of a community. When we talk about public spaces, we’re not just dealing with individual fantasies, but with shared principles like morality and Ubuntu. Our actions should be guided by a sense of community responsibility, not just personal reference. Would you love your child to be dressed like that but you just like it zviri kuvana vekwevamwe? – Isikhwicamfundo Umduduzi
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Kudos to ZimFest for delivering a great event because most, including my friends, cousins etc, had a wonderful time minus the filthy, uncouth thugs who tried to drag it into disrepute. Zimbabweans must learn to be considerate and practise basic etiquette, grooming chete chete. Folks need to take responsibility, change their mindset and focus on being a force for good because we all carry our own negative bacteria, and what we choose to feed ultimately defines who we truly are. – Vincent Chatima
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The most disappointing of all liberal leftist arguments, particularly those that purport to be progressive, is this glorification of so-called empowerment, freedom, agency, and authority, to mean the overthrow of conservative morality by forms of anarchism that do not in themselves hold any morally superior claims, except a visceral defence of what Marechera referred to as “Th’ individual’s blind impulse” – unfettered individual liberty – in his poem The Bar Stool Edible Worm! If we should strip away your fanciful descriptions and remain with the imagery of what you’re defending as female empowerment, authority and agency, what we’re left with is the unflattering sight of those young women’s exposed bottoms – some clad in what passes for underwear – and yet somehow, in this great progressive argument of yours, THAT is the picture of Female Empowerment, Female Authority and Agency? Nothing cerebrally engaging, just a crass exhibition of flesh, and somehow that is meant to project power? To who? This is a disingenuous argument that foments a barren cultural anarchism with progressive pretensions yet proving in essence to be quite disempowering! It’s like arguing that Amber Rose’s Slut Walk is a projection of female power! Where does that leave our role as fathers of these daughters? Hold the coattails of this so-called progressive power projection that expresses itself in the hanging butt cheeks of young women and cheer on this version of female empowerment? – Chofamba Sithole
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Why are you looking at the female body and exercising your objectifying mind about how it’s dressed? Moda vasunge maZambia? There is something perverted about that affected puritanism. FACT IS, you don’t go to a summer outdoor event in the UK and see any different. But here is the more fundamental point; this year we had an obvious generational shift in attendance at ZimFest – YOUNG PEOPLE & SECOND-GENERATION migrants! As a business, the organisers are future-looking, the artist line-up was very deliberate in being youth-focused. ZimFest organisers know they need to re-generate their market if the festival is to live on; they need new audiences because the original & angry Zim-runaways aren’t going to be around forever and they have shifts to go to! Even more significantly from a global nation premise, it’s great that these second generation migrants still retain that emotive connection with Zimbabwe. Otherwise they would be going to watch Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr., known professionally as Stormzy – Gilbert Nyambabvu
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They’re well dressed, that’s not graphic coz you never been to South Africa. – Jonas AJ
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We fought for our liberation let them wear how they feel. And doing it in the land of our former oppressors is justified. – Shaft Wakatama
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They smoke Vodo from a village shrine. – Ray China
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Naked and shapeless women. – Silence Sinyoro Kwenda
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This isn’t news , it’s shaming. – Tatty Kutenha
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Most of those speaking so negatively were not there physically. Things that people major in. – Chimuti Chimuti
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Zim-BumFest. – Tichaona Mapengo
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I attended and had a great time, the event was well organised and atmosphere was great. Had many friends and family who attended for the first and enjoyed it very much. It’s still the best Zim festival event of the year. – Admire S Munetsi
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I totally agree, the event was a success and very entertaining. They just need to improve on the bar situation to shorten queues, otherwise it was brilliant. – Godie Crucial
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The standards in the UK in all spheres have gone down. The ZimFest issue is just a reflection of the general decline of the standards. UK rangova dongo iro. – Kudzai Rangarirai
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Dressing is a form of communication, and communication is only complete when the message has been received, decoded and responded. We have responded. – Nathaniel Mlambo
