HARARE – What had been billed as a massive Easter-eve gig at New Life Night Club, featuring Peter Moyo, Leonard Zhakata and Beverly “Bev” Sibanda, was ruined by a poor public address system.
To make matters worse, Bev, who was asked to hold her popular dance show at the Thursday gig as sound technicians were battling to restore the public address system, was hauled off the stage by police.
The controversial dancer was questioned by the police for allegedly assaulting an unidentified woman during one of her recent shows.
Bev is also alleged to have also threatened the same woman over the phone.
While the dancer’s manager Hapaguti “Hapaz” Mapimhidze was talking to police officers who were quizzing the controversial artiste, Bev sneaked out of the Budiriro-based night club and sped off in a tinted car.
Hapaz confirmed that the police had indeed questioned his charge.
“Yes, Beverly was asked to come off stage by the police and was being questioned over a brawl she was involved in with a certain woman.
“She is also accused of threatening the same lady over the phone,” said Bev’s manager.
After Bev had been unceremoniously hauled off the stage, the local DJ had to play some music to allow Peter Moyo’s Utakataka Express to set up their sound system on stage.
Moyo, who is popularly known as Young Igwe, only managed to go on stage around 2am.
What a performance it was!
If the show had not been blighted by poor sound issues, the Kwekwe-based Utakataka Express would surely have stolen the limelight.
Zhakata, who was the last performer on the night, also gave a good account of himself but the chaos that ran riot at earlier on somewhat dampened the mood at the concert where fans had paid $5 to gain entry.
Fidelis Ngove, the New Life Night Club proprietor, could not hide his disappointment with the way the three artistes had handled themselves on the night.
“If the three artistes were organised and professional, they could have come here much earlier so that they could do their sound check in time,” said Ngove.
“They clearly short-changed their fans. There is no way a professional band can do sound check at the time they are supposed to begin their performance.”