The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Tuesday, September 15, 1992 — The Bulawayo City Council has banned the use of the Large City Hall for discos because of vandalism and other anti-social activities by the youths.

The Acting Town Clerk, Mr Moffat Ndlovu, confirmed the decision but said the council was not against any group of people.

Only discos and similar functions would be banned irrespective of who organised them, he said. Council sources said the council, which had tolerated such events in the past, took the decision after the “Miss Teen Queen” show held by the Junior Council on July 31.

According to council minutes of August 24, property worth $353 was damaged during the show. Two door panel panes and a toilet lid were damaged. Toilets were also blocked and taps left running.

The Junior Council paid for the damages. Council sources said besides the damage, workers who cleaned the hall after the show also found items of promiscuity strewn in the hall.

As a result of the council’s new policy, the newly formed Bulawayo Students’ Action Society, comprising National University of Science of Technology (Nust) and high school students had to make a last minute change of venue form the City Hall to a city hotel for a disco it staged last Friday to raise funds for the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project. Council officials informed the students’ society that they had been directed by the Town Clerk, Mr Mike Ndubiwa, not to allow the function to take place in the hall.

Nust Students’ Representative, Mr Temba Ngwenyama, complained that the council should have given a public notice to avoid inconveniences.