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The Tourism Night gig has been used previously to bring down the curtain on the fair that would have run for five days. This year’s fair will run for three days from Thursday to Saturday at the Zimbabwe Exhibition Park (Showgrounds) in Harare.

Authoritative sources close to the ZTA say the annual musical extravaganza that has previously featured numerous top-of-the-range artistes, including South African Afro jazz maestro Ringo Madlingozi, would not be staged this year due to financial problems.

“It is most likely that this year’s Tourism Night would not be held. The ZTA is facing financial problems and does not have the money to pay the artistes,” said the source on condition of anonymity.
However, ZTA public relations manager Sugar Chagonda was diplomatic, neither confirming nor denying that the fair would be staged or not.

“It is not true that we have failed to hold the Tourism Night but we are mulling separating the event from the Sanganai/Hlanganani packages so that it stands on its own.
“We are mooting the idea of staging it in December as part of our festive celebrations as opposed to October during the Sanganai/Hlanganani Fair.

“The considerations have been occasioned by the possibility that the ZTA might not front the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe this year as it could be going back to the Miss Zimbabwe Trust led by Kiki Divaris. So our plan was to have the Tourism Night in December around the time we used to have the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe,” said Chagonda.

According to Chagonda, the deliberations to re-schedule the event that has become hugely popular over the years are still on-going and no concrete decision has been reached at the moment.
“We are definitely yet to finalise on when to stage the event. The issue is still under discussion with no final position at the moment. As soon as the discussions are over, you will be the first to know,” he said.
Nevertheless, Chagonda stressed that it is the ZTA’s intention to “decongest the Sanganai Fair so that it mainly focuses on the business thrust”.
“We are still refining the idea but we are seriously considering taking the Tourism Night off the Sanganai packages,” he said.

Despite the swelling confusion over whether or not the event would be staged this year, the Tourism Night is on the Sanganai programme and is slated for October 16 but there is no venue. Last year, it was held at the Harare International Conference Centre.

Some fans say if the Tourism Night gig was not to be staged this year, it would be a bitter pill to swallow since it has become an annual entertainment fixture for them where they dance away the night, enjoying mostly top-class music.

In 2008, Ringo Madlingozi and Kwekwe-based sungura star Tongai “Dhewa” Moyo left revellers clamouring for more after a polished all-night act. That year, the fair was held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) grounds in Bulawayo.

Last year, Moyo, the Utakataka Express front man, shrugged off ill-health and stole the limelight from Josphat Somanje, Djouna The Big One and Pastor Charles Charamba. Sungura king Alick Macheso, who was also billed to perform, did not show up.

Moyo has become a permanent feature at the Tourism Night and fans were hoping to sample some tracks from his upcoming album Toita Basa at the gig.