From Matorokisi To Mayhem| Makhadzi’s Team Responds To Zimbabwe Show Backlash
Makhadzi’s team has issued a statement regarding the recent incident in Zimbabwe, where her performance was unexpectedly cut short.
On April 7, 2022, Makhadzi was scheduled to perform at the Manicaland Motoring Club, and the show was going smoothly until she abruptly took to the stage.
The atmosphere quickly turned chaotic as attendees began hurling bottles toward the stage, forcing Makhadzi to take immediate action to ensure her safety and that of her band.
Despite her strong connection to Zimbabwe and considering it her second home, Makhadzi was forced to abruptly end her set.
There have been conflicting reports on the cause of the unrest. Some speculated that the crowd became irate due to Makhadzi’s use of pre-recorded tracks, while others attributed the commotion to overcrowding and a resulting stampede as fans rushed to capture footage of the artist.
According to show promoter Partson “Chipaz” Chimbodza from Zimbabwe, fans were clamoring to see Makhadzi on stage, causing them to break down barricades that were intended to separate VIPs from the general audience.
This, in turn, led to a scuffle between the VIPs and the crowd, with bottles being thrown in both directions.
Makhadzi’s team has spoken to TimesLIVE, clarifying what happened on the fateful night in Zimbabwe. Open Mic Productions managing partner Brenden Maseko said:
“What happened on Saturday, people didn’t throw bottles or things at Makhadzi; it’s false. It was the weakness of the promoter regarding security at the venue and the event. The barricade for [the] golden circle and general access was just a barricade. There was no security there.
“Immediately when Makhadzi got onto the stage, people wanted to come forward and see her, and they pushed the barricade. When they pushed the barricade, it fell on people. Those in [the] golden circle were trying to stop people and draw attention to the barricade. They started throwing bottles at the others to try to get them to stop entering [the] golden circle.
“We did most of the performance. We didn’t finish the set because we didn’t want to put others at risk. The promoter said he was calling the police to come to calm the crowd. It was a beautiful performance. People still love Makhadzi out there.”
