BCC, iFest renew partnership

Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
THE Bulawayo City Council is renewing its partnership with Ibumba Festival (iFest) this year with indications that it has knocked off 75 percent of the hiring cost of the show’s main venues – Stanley Square and Stanley Hall.

The annual festival will be held from December 16 to 22 running under the theme “Okwethu (What We Own), Esilakho (What We Have) and Esikwabelayo (What We Share), for a united Artistic Voice”. It will be headlined by South Africa’s Black Motion as well as performances by locals — Khuliyo, Creme Voices, DJ Slamma, Siyaya, Sunduza and King Terry.

According to the latest council minutes, the hiring of Stanley Square and Hall for the duration of the festival is normally pegged at $3 666.73.

This means that organisers of the iFest will only fork out $916 for the seven-day event.

“It’s resolved that the recommendation of the Town Clerk be adopted and authority be granted that Ibumba Festival be granted a 75 percent rebate on the hire charges for use of Stanley Hall and Stanley Square on the dates and times requested,” read the minutes.

In addition, a tea with the Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo will also be on the cards a day before the festival begins.

Director of the festival Saimon “Mambazo” Phiri who sent the request to partner with the local authority in October said they were waiting for the city father’s response.

“The request is with the city council and we await them to deliberate and confirm. We hope they’ll give us a positive response,” said Phiri.