adminEmily Mbewe Showbiz Reporter
Music fans that attended last weekend’s NaakMusiQ’s Call Out Party at a Bulawayo nightclub, have complained of ill-treatment which they blamed on the organisers of the show.
Many rue their decision to attend the South African musicians’ show as they either went back home with swollen arms or without some of their belongings including earrings.
The club owners were clearly overwhelmed as they failed to handle the hundreds who attended the event.
Gaining entry into Horizon Pub & Grill at Pioneer building was not for the faint hearted as it was a cumbersome process, taking at least an hour to get into the venue.
The nightspot’s bouncers harassed innocent patrons at the entry point, hoping to get bribes.
A female reveller told of how she was squashed against the wall by rowdy patrons while trying to gain entry before being sexually harassed.
“I got to the club at around 10PM hoping there’d be less commotion. Sadly, there were still hoards of people jostling to gain entry. Going up the Pioneer stairs was the worst as there was confusion, with some people trying to leave the club and some trying to get in,” said a patron who preferred anonymity.
“Before I knew it, I was pressed hard against the wall by one of the bouncers. When I complained, he threatened to chase me away and said I’d get into the club when he wanted. While all that was happening, men in the queue took advantage of the situation and started touching our buttocks. It’s at that point that I decided to give up and go home.”
Another female patron said the bouncers were hard on them, giving them treatment similar to that of touts.
“I was left wondering whether bouncers and touts are brothers because their behaviour is the same. They clearly don’t know how to treat ladies — they’re very rough.”
ZiFM personalities who were in the city for a series of parties were not spared from the commotion regardless of their celebrity status.
The 10 were captured begging people to make way for them to exit the club.
It took them more than 45 minutes to leave as they were stuck by the steps rubbing shoulders with pick pockets and dirty thugs.
A male reveller said: “I will never go back to that club. They treat you like you want to go in for free yet you want to pay. I was embarrassed in front of my girlfriend as I was manhandled down the stairs in a manner I didn’t like.”
Once in the club, one had to identify a position which they would stand for the whole night as the venue was packed to the rafters, making it impossible for people to access toilets. It took at least 30 minutes to manoeuvre to those facilities and even longer to refill one’s drink.
Organiser of the show, Joe the OG, said they had not anticipated the high turn-out at the nightspot on the day of the show.
“We didn’t think we’d have so many people coming to watch NaakMusiQ. We had close to 1,000 patrons at the club. Some people were coming out of the club while others were getting in, that’s why there was so much commotion at the door,” said Joe the OG.
He said they would manage their events better and ensure patrons have an enjoyable experience.
Online Reporter