South African musician Lundi Tyamara’s show scheduled for Harare Gardens this afternoon hangs in the balance after the musician was deported from the country on Thursday for failing to produce a work permit. Report By JAIROS SAUNYAMA OWN CORRESPONDENT Lundi was deported on arrival at Harare International Airport because he had not been cleared by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) to perform in the country.
Show organisers from Kingdom Praise were yesterday trying to secure a permit for the musicians and were hopeful that the show would go ahead.
By midday yesterday officials from NACZ said they had not cleared Lundi but organisers insisted the procedure was underway and the musician would fly back in time for today’s show. Lundi was held hostage at the airport for four hours before being sent back to his country.
There was drama at the airport as the organisers tried to negotiate with immigration authorities to release the musician but it was a futile exercise.
The musician is expected to perform alongside Mudiwa, Munyaradzi Munodawafa, Gamuchirai Magadzire, Diva Mafunga andOlinda Marova.
“We secured the work permit but officials took long to release the document. We are not cancelling the show because we are going to make sure he returns tomorrow (yesterday) night for the show. I believe by then all will be in place. Lundi is meant to perform on Saturday (today) and he had come early to grace our church service,” said Pastor Reason Mutero one of the organisers.
