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Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
Onias Nyika, the promoter who made headlines recently after saying Bulawayo artistes were worth less than $5 after a show he had organised featuring top city artistes flopped, has reportedly gone into hiding.This comes after he failed to pay the artistes who performed at the Jayiva Show held two weeks ago at White City Stadium in Bulawayo.

Though the show featured some of the city’s top artistes, among them Jeys Marabini, Sandra Ndebele, Clement Magwaza, Chase Skuza, Martin Sibanda and Ndolwane Super Sounds and Ndux Malax Junior — it just did not attract people, leaving the promoter in debt.

Only 40 people are said to have paid their way into the show. The promoter was forced to reduce the gate charges from $5 to $3 hoping people would  pay. This did not help as people did not want to pay — resulting in the show becoming a free-for-all event.

In an interview, a member of 02 Squad who only identified himself as Moyo said they last heard from Nyika two weeks ago.

“His cellphones are not reachable and we do not know what happened to him. We last heard from him two weeks ago when he was said to have travelled to his rural home in Matopo to sell some of his cattle so that he could pay the artistes,” he said.

Moyo said the artistes have however not asked much about their money.

“Since Onias spoke to the artistes before he left, we have not had any demands from them. I think they are patiently waiting for him to come and pay them their dues,” he said.

However, Jeys said the promoter’s mobile number that they were given was not going through leaving them in the dark with regards to the payments for the show.

“He has been quiet since the time he said we were worth less than $5. I have tried to call him and his number is not reachable,” he said.
“We have tried to be patient with this fellow and we thought that he was an honest businessperson, but after his utterances, we want our money as soon as yesterday,” he said.

Ndebele echoed the same sentiments and said  the promoter was disorderly in his conduct of business.

“They have not paid us anything. What I know is that I have a contract with them that compels them to pay us,” she said.