The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo recently in Hwange Sunday Leisure Reporter
NIGHT life in the coal-mining town of Hwange can just be summed up as a damp squib for those that are fond of exhilarating and entertainment filled outings but that is set to end as top gospel artistes are billed to perform at a family fun day. Renowned and successful entertainment and liquor outlets operator in Matabeleland North Province, Kennedy Chiwanza, says he has rolled up his sleeves and changes are ringing in for various joints that he runs.
He also plans on promoting artistes within and outside the region who he said would be performing at his outlets, something he said was lacking and made Hwange lag behind in terms of entertainment.
He said a family fun bash was on the cards, with the country’s top gospel artistes billed to perform at the joint in April.
“We are working on inviting top gospel artistes to perform. It will be more of a family fun day as we will have an array of fun games for the young ones,” said Chiwanza.
Chiwanza has a bar in Binga, a bottle store and nightclub in Hwange as well as a bar in the high-density suburb of Mkhosana in Victoria Falls.
He was baptised into the liquor outlet and entertainment business in 2009, when he won a tender to operate an officer’s mess at Hwange Police Station.
“The popularity and success of the bar at the police station prompted me to seriously consider venturing into the liquor business and I opened a bar in Binga the same year,” Chiwanza said.
He later opened a bottle store in the remote area of Dinde.
The bottle store situated about 20km from Hwange town along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road is popular among the town dwelling imbibers seeking to have a few drinks in a tranquil environment while it also presents a rare opportunity for rural folks to gulp ice-cold beverages.
However, Chiwanza’s focus is to ensure that GVZ nightclub and leisure centre becomes a hub of entertainment.
“We are in the process of renovating GVZ both inside and outside. Our intention is to give it a modern and trendy appearance just like the nightspots you find in Harare, Bulawayo and Gweru.
“We feel it’s our obligation to give our patrons value for their money by ensuring that we avail an up-market place for them to unwind from their daily routines. This spot will be unique in the sense that it will offer quiet relaxation to high-end cocktails,” he said.
“Although outside observers may think that running a nightclub should be as easy as pouring drinks and plugging in a jukebox, a lot of energy goes into creating a successful nightspot.
“For instance one has to ensure that there is a wide range of beverages to cater for all. Professional bartenders, waiting staff, bar backs and security staff are essential to providing a smooth and entertaining time for customers,” Chiwanza said.
The GVZ nightclub and leisure centre proprietor said apart from giving the club a facelift, part of the work was to spruce the place’s garden.
“We intend to barricade the garden as from time to time its lawns and flowers were being damaged by individuals who park their cars in the area. We will also ensure that the sitting arrangement is comfortable,” Chiwanza said.
“We will introduce happy hour drink specials and trivia contests to give customers fun activities during the week while providing the business with the much-needed revenue on slow days.”
“We are also going to increase the number of braai areas during that day and the performance by the artistes will be outdoors or in open air,” Chiwanza said.
He, however, said GVZ was not yet ready to lure high profile musicians to belt it out in the club.
“At this particular juncture we are not ready to host high profile musicians because we are still to create adequate space for big crowds as well as having enough counters and refrigerators to serve multitudes with chilled beverages,” Chiwanza said.
He said plans were under way to employ highly qualified sound engineers and lighting technicians to deliver memorable visual and acoustic experience.
