The Sunday News
Mthabisi Tshuma, Sunday Life Reporter
AS the streets of Bulawayo are abuzz with anticipation over the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards that will be held in the city on Saturday, nominees to the prestigious awards ceremony will, tomorrow, get an opportunity to mix and mingle with sponsors at a dinner gala.
The nominees’ dinner comes after voting lines are set to close at the stroke of midnight on Wednesday, will be held at the Glen Lodge in Bulawayo and will see all the nominees being awarded certificates of recognition.
RoilBAA spokesperson Vusumuzi Dube told Sunday Life that the preparations for the pre-red carpet event are all at an advanced stage.
“The last event before the actual awards will be held tomorrow (Thursday) which is the nominees’ dinner. We are expecting all the nominees to converge at Glen Lodge where they will not only get a chance to interact among each other but they will also have an opportunity to rub shoulders with all our sponsors.
“What we are saying is that this event is about the artists hence they have to feel pampered. Further they will have an opportunity to market themselves to our sponsors which could possibly see them creating long lasting partnerships, which is key to their growth as artists,” said Dube.
Turning to the voting process, Dube said they expected record breaking figures of people who would have voted by the close of voting saying this showed the support and pride people now had towards the awards.
Meanwhile, Dube revealed that the corporate world continues to endorse the awards will more sponsors coming on boards, a move which he said was after companies realised the popularity of the awards.
“We have managed to get more support from various companies who have seen the growth of the awards and want to associate with this ever growing brand by ensuring that people get a good taste of their money by providing the finest awards ever.
“Just this week, we clinched a deal with telecommunications giant NetOne, Fortwell wholesale, Zapalala and Simbisa Holdings with more sponsors set to come on board,” he said.
@mthabisi_mthire
