It’s do or die at Zim Dancehall shutdown

zimdancehall
Jonathan Mbiriyamveka Entertainment Reporter—

It is back to City Sports Centre, the venue for this year’s Zim Dancehall Shutdown where only last month it played host to Sting 2014, leaving in its wake a trail of destruction and thousands of fans seriously injured. It was one of the worst incidents in the history of Zim dancehall where thousands of fans risked losing their life and limb in a stampede that broke out after a teargas canister was fired into the crowd by an unknown assailant.

And following the heels of the Sting 2014 nightmare, was the tragedy that hit Mbizo Stadium where PHD Ministries led by self-styled Prophet Walter Magaya claimed the lives of 11 followers in yet another stampede.

No alarm was raised in both incidents and instead people quickly moved on with their lives as if nothing happened.

Against that backdrop, organisers of Sting 2014 who are now putting together Zim Dancehall Shutdown decided to take the gig back to the haunted venue.

Was the decision to take the gig to the City Sports Centre a wise decision? If yes, what have they put in place to ensure that there is not going to be a repeat of those ugly scenes?

“We returned to the same venues for two main reasons. One of them is that we learnt from the previous mistakes and we believe we have now put corrective measures to ensure that in the case of a stampede there will be more exit points unlike at that time when we had only a few.

“Secondly, due to the rains, it is the only venue available given the magnitude of the crowds that attend Zim dancehall gigs and most importantly it is central and easily accessible to fans. We are also not going to allow too many people on stage.

“The VIP area, which is opposite the stage, had no caterer so there was too much movement which also congested backstage.

“All these loopholes and others have been taken care of,” Partson “Chipaz” Chimbodza, who is promoting the show said.

Despite assurance by Chipaz that security will be on high alert, skeptics still think the show has more to do with the attitude of fans.

There is no doubt, Zim dancehall is pulling huge crowds at the moment but in the same breath it also attracts hooligans, thugs and pick-pockets bent on causing chaos which they take advantage of.

There is also the issue that since Sting 2014, there are a good number of artistes who would want to settle old scores which in turn would incite violence at the show. It is almost like a do or die affair for fans and the artistes.

One only hopes that Chipaz Promotions who are not new to organising shows of that magnitude will get it right this time so that fans will enjoy the outing rather than regret attending the gig.

True to his words, Chipaz said Zim Dancehall Shutdown was not a contest but just one big show that brings together all the top performing artistes.

The Zim Dancehall Shutdown boasts a fantastic line up of performing artistes in the likes of Winky D, Soul Jah Love, Killer T, Dhadza D, Kinna, Ricky Fire, Lady Squanda,, Terminator, Badman and Jiggaz.

Others are Cello Culture, Jay C, Bounty Lisa and K Queens.

Top sound system Judgment Yard comprising DJ Flevah and chanter Etherton Beenie will grace the gig as well as the duo of Garry B and Templeman.

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