adminRay Bande
Senior Reporter
CHAOS reigned supreme as revellers ran in all directions scurrying for cover, while crooner, Jah Prayzah had to jump off the stage, abandoning his show at Pick and Save in Mutare last Saturday night when a chemical weapon similar to a teargas canister was unleashed by one of the feuding parties as scenes of violence erupted.With about 3 000 fans in attendance, the musician who went onto the stage at around 11pm had started off the show well, serenading revellers with his popular tracks such as Kumbumura Mhute, Eriza and others.
However, all hell broke loose around 2am when a scuffle ensued between two pleasure seekers, resulting in one of them throwing a canister.
In an interview, Pick and Save proprietor, Isau Mupfumi, identified the feuding parties as Douglas Kombo of Plot 5, Christmas Pass, Mutare against Mutare socialite and businessman, Clyde Jani.
“We had about 3 000 people in attendance and all was well until around 2am when Cyde Jani had a nasty exchange of words with Douglas Kombo.
“The latter then threw a canister that was blocked by Jani before it rolled on the ground and started producing smoke that caused so much confusion and pain to revellers.
“Some who were near the entrance quickly rushed out but, others had a torrid time to find safety. Jah Prayzah had to jump off the stage.
“Douglas Kombo was assaulted by a number of fans who blamed him for causing the abrupt stoppage of the entertaining show.
“We had to rescue him,’ said the Dangamvura-Chikanga legislator.
Mupfumi said Kombo instantly offered to pay $5 000 for the return of Jah Prayzah on stage as a way of apologising for having caused the abandonment of the show.
“Kombo actually offered to pay $5 000 for the return of Jah Prayzah as a way of apologising for having caused the abandonment of the show.
“He even went on to hand over to us $3 000, pledging to pay the reminder the following day,” said Mupfumi.
Lachrymatory agents, like the one used by Kombo, are commonly used for riot control.
According to Google, their use in warfare is prohibited by various international treaties.
Most of them cause severe eye, respiratory, and skin irritation, pain, vomiting, and even blindness.
In the eye, they stimulate the nerves of the lacrimal gland to produce tears.
Common lachrymators include pepper spray (OC gas), CS gas, CR gas, nonivamide, bromoacetone, xylyl bromide, syn-propanethial-S-oxide (from onions), and Mace (a branded mixture).
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