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Entertainment Reporter
The annual traditional dance showcase, Chibuku Neshamwari, promises to set new records this year as the national finals roar into life this Saturday at White City Stadium, Luveve, Bulawayo.

Ten groups will be wowing the crowds with a variety of dances ranging from nyau, muchongoyo, mbende, chinyambera and umkhankaso.

Winners of the national competitions will walk away with $4 000 cash in total.

The dance competition is in its 52nd year, a record for any grassroots programme promoting local arts and culture in Zimbabwe.

Delta Beverages began sponsoring the popular competition at its inception in 1963.

The competition is run as a tripartite partnership among Delta Beverages through the Chibuku brand, plus technical partners National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Traditional Dance Association.

“As a Zimbabwean company, we value the privilege of promoting and celebrating our culture and heritage, which is all part of what it means to be proudly Zimbabwean to us.

“Through our Chibuku brand, we have been committed to the arts for over 50 years as Delta Beverages,” said Patricia Murambinda, Delta Beverages marketing manager.

Murambinda promised a fun-filled event advising that preparations were well on course and the public should expect an exciting event this year. “Chibuku is the people’s beer, and the national competitions is the place to be this year.

“Our consumers will enjoy great entertainment, free of charge and get to interact with their favourite brand in a safe environment”

The competition comes at a time when Delta Beverages is increasing its footprint through the popular brand Chibuku Super that has a shelf life of more than 21 days and the traditional two-litre Scud that has stood the test of time, and they will be looking at the competition as an opportunity for lucky imbibers to sample the fast selling product.

There are a diverse range of traditional dances in Zimbabwe that span traditional aspects of pre-colonial life from rain making, war and harvest.

It will be a tough call for the judges to select the winners from this year’s line-up.

Also lined up at the national finals for the public is the launch of the exciting 2015 Chibuku Super Cup traders and consumer promotion. The promotion will run for three months until the October 25, 2015. Up for grabs is a Nissan Urva 16- seater bus.

Again this year we will witness the final draw for the just ended Chibuku Take 2 Consumer and Traders promotion.

The public should come in numbers to witness the draw for the first prize of $20 000.

Anyone can walk away with this ultimate prize.

Below is the full list of the groups competing at this year’s national finals.

1. Makarekare Dance Group – Mashonaland East – Mbende

2. Jahunda Com Arts – Matabeleland South – Umchongoyo

3. Gango Group – Masvingo – Mbende

4.Budiriro Arts – Mashonaland West – Chinyambera

5. Wundi Zambia Nyawo – Midlands – Zambia Nyawo

6. Shingayi Dance Group – Harare – Chinyambera

7. Umkhankaso Wamajaya – Matabeleland North – Umchongoyo

8. Dhumatasangana Dance Group – Manicaland – Mbende

9. Zimnyama Dance Group – Bulawayo – Umchongoyo

10. Chinyakare Dance Droup – Mashonaland Central – Dinhe