Beres Hammond failed to turn up for the Lion Larger Summer Beer Festival held at Glamis Stadium on Friday.
After Cocoa Tea’s arrival at the Harare International Airport on Saturday afternoon, the promoters Shumba Instrumentation had not come clean on whether Hammond was still to come to Harare.
The skepticism mounted as people were furnished with more and more rumors that he did not even know about Harare Show.
Efforts to get a comment from the promoters after the show were fruitless as their mobile phones were not reachable.
Delta Beverages, the financiers of the festival expressed disappointment at the unfolding of events.
Patricia Murambinda, marketing and communications manager of Delta said they would devote all their resources and time this week to finding out what had transpired.
“We need to establish why he did not come because we paid everything that was asked for by the promoters and we were assured that he was paid.
“Even the artistes that pitched up confirmed that they had received the cash. Our money is involved so we need to know what happened,” said Murambinda.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Before the day of the show the promoters had appeared fickle as they kept giving new arrival schedules after Hammond failed to arrive on Wednesday as scheduled initially.
It had been announced that Hammond would arrive on Wednesday and the other artistes and the backing bands arriving the next day.
The festival which took place at the Glamis Arena on Saturday started on a rather key note with the DJs clash failing to attain the intended rapport.
DJ Squila, a Power Fm DJ came out tops at the DJ clash and walked away with a Lion Lager branded trophy while DJ Chuckie took second position. DJ Dee Vine, last year’s winner of the DJs competition also took to the decks and did not disappoint as he kept revelers on their feet.
The crowds only started picking up towards sunset, a situation that could have been caused by the lineup which only started fielding live performances well into the night.
First on the stage was Transit crew who exhibited numerous expertise as they have been exposed to various international artiste who have visited Zimbabwe.
After Transit Crew Mic Inity backed by the Hotta Fire band, took to the stage and delivered another marvelous performance. Hotta Fire band is another outfit that has been making ripples in the reggae fraternity.
When Suluman Chimbetu got to the grand stage he gave revelers a good run for their money as he proved popular with audiences.
What however played down is the news that had began speculating before he got to the stage. It was quite conspicuous from his voice and choreography that the news of Tongai Moyo aka Dhewa’s death had gripped him.
During his performance he dedicated two songs Ndarangarira gamba and Pane asipo.
Despite his popularity, Wallace Chirumiko aka Winky D failed to make an impact somehow failing to blend well with the live instrumentation which he is not used to. When the time came for the main acts to get onto the stage starting with Cocoa Tea who proved popular with the crowds, the hysteria came to a climax.
Sandra Madovi, Lion Lager brand manager said the beer festival was a success.
“Compared to last year’s festival which saw Beenie Man performing, this year’s festival venue was more conducive and accessible with close to 10 000 people attending the show.
This weekend, the beer festival will be held in Hartsfield in Bulawayo with Cocoa Tea and Fantan Mojah billed to perform there.
