Chaos reigns at Chipanga show

Courage Musariri Entertainment Reporter
HOSIAH Chipanga’s failure to turn up for his scheduled show on Friday night at Manor Hotel in Bulawayo ignited chaotic scenes at the gig. Chipanga’s band waited in vain for their lead singer to turn up, with organisers clueless about the Kwachu-Kwachu hit-maker’s whereabouts.

The poorly organised show began two hours after show organisers – Ndolwane Super Sounds Amangwe Productions and fans got involved in an argument over payment of a $5 entrance fee.

With no police detail in sight, fans had gained free entrance into the venue as the gates were also not manned. Fans were later asked to go out so that they pay the cover charge, but they refused.

The confusion lasted for two hours and was later rectified after police came in to diffuse the situation. Fans left the auditorium to necessitate the issue of payment. Most of them left for good.

The handful that remained demanded to pay half the price saying it was too late for them to be charged $5.
“It’s 11pm now and the show was supposed to start at 8pm, why should we pay the same amount. I will only pay $3,” said a fan.

At 11.30pm those that remained were treated to some good music from Charles Ndebele.
The band together with Ollah Juru performed till the early hours of Saturday giving fans good entertainment.

Speaking on the sidelines of the show, Ndolwane Super Sounds manager, identified only as Assani, said they were extremely disturbed by the behaviour of fans.

“We are doing our best to rectify this problem. We thought of cancelling the show when we heard that Hosiah Chipanga was not coming,” he said.

Assani said fans should not despair as in future they would be hosting well organised shows. He added that it was not their fault that things turned the way they did.

“We are sure we can do better than this and we are sorry to our fans. We have learnt from this,” he said.
Ndolwane Super Sounds management was left counting losses after Chipanga failed to turn up for all their three scheduled shows.
Together with Chipanga they were scheduled to perform in Plumtree and Esigodini.