A popular Chitungwiza-based nightclub has joined in the fight against HIV and Aids by rebranding the night spot, which was largely viewed as a place riddled with promiscuity, to a family entertainment spot.
BY GUMISAI NYONI In a dramatic shift, Paramount nightclub — popularly known as KwaMakandiwa — has announced the banning of sexually-suggestive mini-skirts and has started campaigning against stereotyping of women as sex objects.
The owner of the business venture, Octarvious Chikonyora, said the move was meant to enable revellers of diverse backgrounds to grace the night spot.
Paramount, which hit the entertainment industry by storm a few years back, had been misconstrued as a place that promoted promiscuity, forcing the club’s management to introduce sterner measures targeted at redressing the perception.
“The decision is based on our desire to create an atmosphere that is receptive of everyone, including those who want to have fun with their families,” said Chikonyora.
“Decency in the club is one way which can help us achieve this. The moment one brings a wife or sister to a place where ladies are scantily dressed, he is likely to feel ashamed.”
He said the place must not be seen as a hub where sexually-transmitted diseases were bred and promoted.
“It’s a way to fight the prevalence of HIV and Aids,” Chikonyora said.
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Chikonyora also said men were supposed to be clean and smartly-dressed. Though no dress code would be required, he said the cleanliness in itself helped to chuck out hooligans who preyed on those who would be entertaining themselves.
“It’s good to drink and relax with smart people. Thugs who would want to disturb the peace in the club will feel uncomfortable because most of them would be dirty,” said Chikonyora.
“In a way, this also lowers high levels of violence, characteristic of many drinking places in high-density suburbs.”
Club manager, Stewart Chiponda said the introduction of jumping castles would enable them to host family fun days.
That way, he said, society would likely identify the night spot as a place viable for business discussions.
He said such high levels of interaction required mental re-orientation on their part to promote progressive deliberations.
“A lot of high-profile people frequent this place. Although we have discussion rooms, it is the outlook that attracts those who are new to the place. We believe this will make our place unique in its operations,” said Chiponda.
He added: “Our community must be respected as well. Regarding dressing, our regular customers are still coming and we expect everyone to adjust to meet the new trend. But of course, a new development faces resistance during its early days.”
Lady Bee (not real name), who frequents the club, was not in any way disturbed by the decision to ban mini-skirts saying beauty was not all about thighs.
She added that a good body defined itself in whatever outfit, only that men were obsessed with scanty dressing. “There are various ways we [women] can dress-up to make ourselves look beautiful without exposing or bodies.
“this also uplifts our well-being in the society which thinks that if a lady goes to a club to drink beer, then she automatically becomes a prostitute,” she said.
On how this had impacted on his business, Chikonyora said nothing much had changed, except that he was being commended for upholding societal values as opposed to thuggery and promiscuity.
Paramount nightclub has become one of the places that attracts multitudes of fun-loving people from various suburbs, besides Chitungwiza.
