SRC row spoils party for Nust graduates
BICKERING between Nust students’ representative council incumbent (SRC) president Terrence Shoko and outgoing Rodwell Nyika led to the cancellation of the students’ graduation bash last Friday.
The send-off party was supposed to take place at the university’s sports ground with performances by Sulumani Chimbetu, Stunner, Godfather Templeman, Garry B, UK-based King Alfred, Fireman, Sasco T, DJ Liz, Kheta Creative Arts and New Generation Sound.
But the party did not take off as the SRC leaders both claimed ownership of the event, forcing show organisers, Werras Entertainment, to cancel the event to avoid chaos.
“The two (Terrence and Rodwell) were pulling in different directions, claiming the bash was theirs. For us, this wasn’t a good thing because at the end of the day there’s no accountability.
“We couldn’t risk the safety of the artistes and also the reputation of our business as we didn’t want to be associated with chaos,” said Samuel “Boss Werra” Saungweme of Werras Entertainment.
Efforts to get a comment from the two SRC presidents were fruitless as their numbers were unreachable.
Most of the artistes including Sulu, Stunner, Templeman and Garry B were already in Bulawayo when they were informed that the show had been cancelled at the last minute.
Templeman and Garry B decided to utilise their time in Bulawayo productively by securing a gig at Private Lounge on the following day.
Thinking in other terms, Nust graduates did not let the show cancellation dampen their jovial mood as they went on to party at various nightspots such as Private Lounge, The Lounge, La Gondola and Horizon Night Club.
At a packed Horizon, students partied the night away with DJs Telflon, Calvin and Kandy Boi entertaining them.
Those who preferred the alluring strippers were easily identifiable as they were spotting new suits and shoes on a night where all-white was the theme.
Boss Werra however, said all hope had not been lost as they are organising another show with the same line-up.
“Unfortunately the graduates whom we were hosting the show for were short-changed because the day comes once in a lifetime.
But we’re planning to have another show with the same artistes, though at a different venue,” said Boss Werra.
They hope to soon have all programmes airing live.
At the weekend, the radio station’s personalities – Babongile Sikhonjwa, Zwa, Patience Phiri, BKay and Memory Nkwe Ndlovu were spotted at OK Mart where they were broadcasting live. Highlanders Football Club players – Ariel Sibanda, Peter Mudhuwa and the teams’ technical staff were interviewed during the broadcast. Godwin Phiri, Skyz Metro FM station manager, said the live broadcast on Saturday had been conducted to test their equipment.
“On Saturday, we wanted to see whether our equipment was working properly. We can safely say we’re happy as everything went smoothly,” said Phiri.
He said they were now working on broadcasting all their programmes live as well as having more outdoor broadcasts.
“What we learnt during the live outdoor broadcast was that we need to take the radio to the people of Bulawayo. So this whole festive season, we’ll be going around the city holding live broadcasts for listeners to know their presenters as well as the station’s presence,” said Phiri.