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Nhlalwenhle Ngwenya
THIS year’s Bulawayo provincial winners of the Chibuku Road to Fame (CRTF), Kupenya Stars, are being investigated by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) after it emerged that they violated one of the rules of the competition.
After winning the competition two weeks ago, the eight-member group bragged about how they had won by singing songs off their debut album – a case they are now being investigated for.
CRTF rules available on the NACZ website clearly state that participating groups are not supposed to have recorded any material.
“Only groups, individuals that have not recorded before are eligible to qualify to partake in the Chibuku Road to Fame competition,” reads the golden rule which Kupenya Stars seems to have ignored.
NACZ Bulawayo Provincial Arts manager, Charity Nyathi, confirmed that Kupenya Stars was being investigated, stating that they had not been disqualified.
“The group has not been disqualified as the Bulawayo provincial winners as investigations are still underway,” said Nyathi.
Despite having gone into studio earlier this year to record an album, the sungura band, which has been in the entertainment scene for quite a long time, successfully earned a slot to represent the city at the national finals, seemingly robbing genuine up-and-coming groups.
The group’s manager, Kudzai Chikomo, said he had since been contacted by the competition’s organisers on the issue and was now waiting for their fate.
“I’m not sure what’s really going on, but I’m waiting for a letter from NACZ about the issue. The local office just briefed me and told me their Harare office would communicate with me,” said Chikomo.
In 2014, a Bulawayo group, Sounds of Universe, was disqualified from the same competition after they took to social media to air their grievances.
Online Reporter