Online Reporter
Trust Khosa-Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE Dancers Association Zimbabwe has expressed dismay at perverts disguising themselves as club owners and event planners who are preying on female dancers.
DAZ president Hapaguti Mapimhidze noted that there was a growing number of dance groups that end up indulging in sexual activities to raise money for transport after being short-changed by club owners.
In the worst scenarios, some club owners vanish before closing for business with the lucky groups, leaving them with as little as US$40 for a four-hour performance.
Although he could not be drawn into revealing the names of groups that have been sexually abused or economically exploited for professional reasons, Mapimhidze stressed that the situation was dire.
“We have received reports about dance groups being short-changed or fleeced by club owners after performances, an issue we are not taking lightly,” he shared.
“There are several cases where dancers are promised their performance fees after the shows, by club owners
“It’s quite unfortunate that there are some people who don’t take us seriously despite us being service providers. Dancing for close to six hours and sweating on stage takes a lot of sacrifice, which is unfortunate for the sector.”
Mapimhidze, who has been in the game for years, urged groups to raise such issues with them to ensure that action is taken.
“Over the years, there were some groups that never reported to us as their regulatory association, but that has changed a bit. Under our wing, we have more than 50 dance groups that have registered with us, and we offer them licenses and membership cards for accountability.
“Sadly, some are yet to renew or register, making it difficult to track them. Whenever such cases arise, they reach us, and we are saddened,” he stated.
When asked about the action they plan to take against rogue club owners, Mapimhidze said they have assembled a strong legal team within the association.
“As DAZ, we are not only regulating club dancers, but we also cater for their welfare, which remains a top priority for us.
“We have legal teams that pursue such matters, and when the allegations are serious, such as sexual exploitation or indecent assault, we don’t hesitate to engage the police because we don’t want these individuals to prey on our dancers who are trying to make a living from their talent.”
Mapimhidze added:
“There are some perverts who have been arrested in the past as a result of this ill practice, and we don’t want to come to that point. It all comes down to the respect that should be observed at all times, and this is the area where we are working as we enter the 2026 season, which is now in full swing. We are all wishing for a better season full of triumph and success stories.”
He also urged club owners and managers to respect the contracts they sign with dancers’ representatives to en-sure the ease of doing business.
“Of course, people will always say that a contract is as good as a piece of paper, but in business, we need to respect the documents and agreements we sign beforehand. We don’t want to see business partners spending much of their time in courts, police stations, or small claims courts over issues that can be easily resolved for the good of the industry,” he emphasised.
Mapimhidze also blamed some of the dancers for lack of professionalism.
The wave of dance groups became popular at the turn of the new millennium, courtesy of United Kingdom-based theatre practitioner Enisia Mashusha, who once managed Mambokadzi. Other dance groups include Girls of Peace, Blue Virgins, Girls La Musica, and Boys La Auto, among others.
Later on, came the likes of Beverly “Bev” Sibanda, Zoey Sirani, Lady Storm, Precious “Wasu Dacoder” Makwame, and Apama Styles, among others, who are still in the game.
