adminBongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
IF a relaxed atmosphere is what you are looking for, then the recently opened Zaziwe’s Place is just what you need.
Situated at the Heath Streak Cricket Academy in Bulawayo, the new leisure spot is ideal for an afternoon out with the whole family.
A partnership among three businessmen, Dumisani Madzivanyati, Hetnesh Patel and Moeden Mohamed, Zaziwe’s Place is open weekdays, from Monday to Friday.
The restaurant menu offers a variety of meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
A number of my friends had complained that there are few spots in the city at which families can hang out but this is a development I’m sure many will enjoy.
Party lovers in the city are spoilt for choice in terms of entertainment activities. They have even taken over spots that are meant for families.
Many just want to have fun with their friends, play loud music and braai while downing various alcoholic concoctions.
One cannot take their children to such places and expose them to people displaying affection publicly and speaking lurid jokes that contain bags of foul language in their drunken stupor.
Zaziwe’s Place is that one place that caters for the family.
As I drove into the venue one afternoon with my partner, I was greeted by lush green lawns and a comfortable-looking sitting area.
There was a live band playing that afternoon and a jumping castle was on site to keep the children entertained.
We sat at a table under the shade of a tree with the luxurious lawns under our feet.
The cool breeze on that day was to die for on a hot summer afternoon.
One can order drinks from the bar, which has an assortment of beverages ranging from soft drinks to fruit juices and alcoholic ones.
Zaziwe’s Place has a spacious braai and sitting area, if you’re claustrophobic — you’d certainly feel at ease.
Without the blaring sound of a DJ playing the latest house tunes over a powerful PA system, the place has a live band playing renditions of old time jazz, reggae, R&B and soul classics. You can actually hear yourself think.
The ambience created by the live band made the entire experience more enjoyable because I could have a decent conversation with my partner without having to raise my voice while eating the juicy T-bone steak served with isitshwala and an assortment of green salads.
The restaurant also serves dishes such as chicken and chips, Russian sausage and chips as well as beef and chicken stews with either isitshwala, rice or pasta.
As evening set, it was time for families to leave as most had to bath their children, feed and put them to bed.
But the night was far from being over as the venue started filling up with couples that wanted to have dinner.
The band, which I later discovered was called Roots, continued to create a laid back atmosphere while people chatted the night away.
Occasionally, some couples would dance to renditions of yester year hits showing their nimble footedness after having a couple of drinks.
While the band was performing No Woman No Cry by Bob Marley, I spoke to one of the proprietors of Zaziwe; Madzivanyati to learn more about the place.
Said Madzivanyati: “The place is for people who want to sit down, relax and enjoy their meals while listening to a live band. It’s for the mature and those who want to bring their families to have fun during the afternoon on a weekend.”
He said they set up Zaziwe after realising that there were no family relaxation spots in Bulawayo.
“We realised that there aren’t many leisure spots in the city that cater for people looking for a relaxed atmosphere they can hang out at with their families.”
When I finally left Zaziwe’s Place at around 11PM, I was convinced families could visit this place and actually leave refreshed.
Hopefully the proprietors will not get tempted to turn the place into one for those who just want loud, fast-paced music as this seems to be the only place in the city which accommodates people with families.
Online Reporter