adminHarare Bureau
SOUTH African Idols judge and managing director of Universal Records South Africa, Randall Abrahams, who was supposed to grace the Zimbabwe Music Awards (Zima) proved “too expensive” for the organisers.
As a result, the no nonsense judge together with CEP South Africa, project managers of the South African Music Awards failed to attend the ceremony. CEP had promised to assist the organisers with the hosting of the event but let them down at the last hour – something which may have compromised the standards of the event.
Zima founder and chairman Joseph Nyadzayo said they tried to bring the South African crew but failed since they proved to be costly.
“We really wanted Randall and the guys from CEP to be here as we had planned. They had promised to come but we found out that what they wanted in return was too much.
“The money they asked for was almost $70,000 and surely we could not afford it. We just decided to go on with the programme without them,” he said.
Asked if the event lived to what they were expecting, Nyadzayo said it was below the standard they wanted as organisers and appealed to the corporate world.
“I can say it was not even half of what we expected. We lacked the resources and we are just appealing to everyone starting with the media to the corporate world. I feel we really need to do something for these artistes.
“Many would agree with me that they deserve the recognition and honour,” he said.
Online Reporter