The gigs lined up for the month were mouth-watering. Garden of House, Munch & Sip, Piano Fest, and the Bulawayo Shutdown were all major attractions scheduled, alongside the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, a business event that never fails to fill pubs and other night-life spots.

Promoters, artistes, and venue owners could be forgiven for thinking that they were in line to make a killing during what promised to be a festive month. Yet, when all has been said and done, April has come and gone, leaving the protagonists in the city’s showbiz scene with more questions than answers.

After Bulawayo Mayor Councillor David Coltart raised concerns in August last year that the Garden of House event had been “unsanctioned”, a long-simmering cold war between the city fathers and local promoters finally erupted into the open, with authorities invoking various laws to clamp down on some events.

The first major casualty was the Bulawayo Shutdown, which was forcibly relocated from Queens Sports Club after the city council ruled that the event violated municipal by-laws. Despite initial resistance from Queens Sports Club management, the council dug in its heels, dusting off a 1960 statute to justify the move, effectively silencing the venue’s protests with the weight of the law.

“The City of Bulawayo has advised the Queens Sports Club leaseholders that no live shows are permitted on the lease premises unless authorised by the council upon application. The city has in the past served previous notices regarding the holding of night parties which disturb the local community.

“The above conditions are in accordance with the notarial agreement of lease which was entered into between the City of Bulawayo and Queens Sports Club on the 1st September 1960,” Town Clerk Christopher Dube said in a notice issued on 11 April 2025.

That same by-law came back to haunt Munch & Sip, as organisers were abruptly ordered to shut down festivities by 6pm at the Harry Allen Golf Course on Sunday, 20 April. The timing could not have been worse, the directive dropped just a day before the show, delivering a gut punch to the team behind it.

One insider confided that they had poured in as much as US$20 000, making the last-minute restriction feel like a cruel twist of fate.

With their hours slashed, organisers had little hope of recovering the thousands they had invested, especially for an event that only truly comes alive after sunset.

Their dilemma is becoming all too familiar for many of Bulawayo’s promoters, who now find themselves boxed in, with most premier venues slowly being turned into no-go zones.

In 2017, Bulawayo City Council announced that it had banned Jah Prayzah, Winky D and Alick Macheso from hosting shows at the Amphitheatre after the “noise” complaints from residents. Other artistes could perform at the venue only until 10pm.
In the wake of last year’s public sparring between Clr Coltart and several artistes and promoters over the Garden of House saga, some in the creative community now believe that the resistance to certain events, often labelled as “too noisy”, carries classist undertones.

Dalubuhle Sibanda of Umahlekisa Entertainment said while accusations and counter-accusations were now flying around over the issue, there was an urgent need for a sit-down to resolve the matter.

“This is a city of Indabas, a city where people come together, talk things through, and find solutions. That spirit is what we need right now. We can’t ignore the reality that the gig economy is expanding rapidly. Events like Munch & Sip, Shutdown, Piano Fest, and Garden of House are not just entertainment, they’re economic engines for the city.

“Creatives, food vendors, and merchandise stall owners are helping keep people fed, literally and figuratively.

These platforms are easing unemployment and offering vital income streams during tough times. We need to recognise that,” Sibanda said.

He added that while there have been growing calls to relocate events away from venues near the Central Business District and residential areas, such moves come with significant financial trade-offs.

“Every household has its rules, and we must respect that. Our role now is to find ways to work within those parameters. There are still paths forward, daytime events, alternative venues outside the city, but each comes with its own challenges, like transport logistics and limited connectivity.

“Still, we need alternatives. I see this as a chance for us to be innovative, to re-imagine how we do things and carve out new spaces in an environment that’s becoming increasingly difficult to navigate.”

Intwasa Festival koBulawayo director Raisedon Baya said while there were calls for event organisers to look at venues in townships around the city, venues in that part of the city were not equipped to host such events.
“Most of the venues in the townships are in a sorry state,” he said candidly.

“When we step in, we often have to fix the basics, no stage lighting, broken platforms, and spaces that were never designed with performances in mind. These places were built for meetings, not moments. McDonald’s Hall is a rare exception,” Baya said.

“So, we go in and start reshaping the space, trying to create something the audience can connect with. Only then can we begin to talk about building audiences. It’s not just about putting on a show. It’s about showing people why their support matters.”

Baya said the latest issue had also exposed the disunity prevalent among creatives and promoters in the city.

“These challenges won’t go away until we come together. Right now, everyone is operating in silos. It feels like the clampdown only affected Munch & Sip and Shutdown, but the reality is, one day, we’ll all need those same venues, and we’ll face the same resistance. Yet, when it was time to stand together and find solutions, too many of us were nowhere to be found.”

After accusations of classism, with critics questioning why events in the townships were allowed despite causing similar disruptions to residents, Baya pointed out that ratepayers in the eastern half of the city appear to be more attuned to their rights.

He said they seem to hold a stronger sense of accountability when it comes to ensuring their voices are heard.
“Residents within or near the CBD are ‘more educated’ about their rights, so they are aware of the by-laws, and they will complain when they feel that they need to. The same rules apply in the townships, but rarely will people make a complaint.

“The same applies to churches that have crusades in the townships. People don’t complain about the noise that they make, but the situation is different in the eastern suburbs.

“We need to understand the by-laws, especially when hosting events like at the Amphitheatre. For music shows, some run into the early hours, and for nearby residents, it means a sleepless night. If it’s a one-off, they may tolerate it, but if it happens regularly, it becomes a real issue. It’s not that they’re against the arts. They’re simply looking out for their comfort as ratepayers,” Baya added.