Political Reporter

Most Bulawayo-based artists refused to perform at the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) rally held at the White City stadium over the weekend forcing that party to hire Inkululekho Yabatsha School of Arts (IYASA) copycats, Victory Siyankoba, to entertain the crowd.

A source who spoke to this publication said that the CCC was left with an egg on the face when IYASA snubbed the event and they had to resort to Victory Siyankoba, to entertain the crowd.

“IYASA was billed to perform at the CCC rally and their name was used to mobilise the people for the rally. However, IYASA failed to show up for the rally leaving the CCC to desperately hire Victory Siyankoba, led by Desire Moyo to entertain the crowd,” said the source.

The source added that the crowd was hoodwinked into believing that Victory Siyankoba was the original IYASA because they copied their dances and costumes.

“The majority of the people believed that it was IYASA which performed at the rally. This is so because Victory Siyankoba imitated the costumes and dances of IYASA,” added the source.

It was also revealed to this publication that the majority of Bulawayo artists snubbed the CCC rally after it emerged that there was no budget for the artists. The CCC wanted artists to perform for free, however, the majority of them refused.

Meanwhile, there are reports that artists who performed at the CCC inaugural rally in Highfield last month were contemplating reporting that party to the police and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to recover their dues.

The artists were promised US$500.00 each for the performance, but that party failed to fulfil its contractual obligations. Only Thulani Takavada (Ricky Fire) a known CCC sympathiser, was paid US$1500.00

Artists such as Tawanda Mumanyi (Sir Calaz), Judgement Yard and Tryson Chimbetu are said to have not been paid their dues.

One of the artists who preferred anonymity said he had it on good authority that Kudakwashe Musasiwa, who was Fadzayi Mahere’s 2018 campaign manager, donated a sum of US$10 000 for artists. The funds were allegedly handed to Jacob Mafume who is believed to have converted part of the funds to his own use and shared the rest with CCC leader Nelson Chamisa.

Efforts to get a comment from CCC interim spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere were futile as her mobile phones were not reachable.