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John Legend

Brenda Phiri Entertainment Reporter
The cancellation of the much anticipated John Legend concert that had been slated for November 19 at the Harare International Conference Centre has sparked an outcry with fans taking to social media to express their displeasure.
Most of the fans described the cancellation as a “shocker” considering that the musician had opted to slot a new show in Durban when tickets of the Harare show were almost sold out.

The multiple award winning global icon has since updated his concert schedule on his official website that also shows the rest of the shows scheduled for Italy, Cape Town and Johannesburg still stand.

Although organisers of the Harare show said the cancellation was beyond their control, irate fans said they felt cheated after making plans for the show and purchasing tickets.

“Due to unforeseen logistical challenges in moving the show between Cape Town, Harare and the recently added Durban show, Big Concerts regrets to advise that John Legend’s Harare concert, scheduled for November 19 2014 has been cancelled,” noted organisers in a statement.

Music critic Fred Zindi said the situation was similar to a cancelled Michael Jackson tour of Zimbabwe that saw the organiser making profit from investing ticket buyers’ money.

“Organisers should make sure they fully refund those that had bought the advance tickets,” said Zindi.
“This has happened before. Michael Jackson was supposed to perform in Zimbabwe years back in a show organised by Anant Singh. The show got cancelled but he had made a profit through investments with the money. I am not saying this was the case with the John Legend organisers but they should give people their money back.”

On social media networks, fans expressed displeasure.
“It was obvious he wasn’t coming. It is difficult to trust show organisers in this economy of a blooming micro-finance industry,” said one Zvenyika.

Debbie Davies wrote: “That is totally disgusting . . . cancelling the Harare show on the 19th which we have all bought tickets for to slot in another show…”
“Waste of people’s time. Logistical challenges that are only in Zimbabwe?” queried Farai Zhou Zimi.

Comments like “cheated”, “this is funny”, “disappointed and heartbroken”, were posted as people registered their displeasure.
The organisers said they would reimburse all fans from Ster Kinekor in Sam Levy Village in Borrowdale.

“The refund procedure will take place over the course of three consecutive days being Wednesday, October 1 through to Friday October 3 from 10am to 5pm.”
They said the window would thus permit ticket holders adequate time to make arrangements and for the promoters to transfer artists fees repatriated
“We will continue to support the Zimbabwean market and look forward to announcing the next international artistes scheduled to perform in Harare early 2015 in the next few weeks,” they said.