The inaugural Cheso Power Festival failed to live up to expectations on Friday after attracting a smaller-than-expected crowd, despite weeks of promotion and a star-studded line-up assembled to celebrate sungura music icon Alick Macheso.
Held at Alex Sports Club in Harare, the festival featured performances by Macheso, Freeman, Kurai Makore, Killer T, Peter Moyo, Tocky Vibes, Bling 4, Ndolwane Super Sounds, Chillspot Family and several other artistes.
Organisers, Chipaz Promotions, had billed the event as one of the biggest music festivals of the year.
However, attendance fell well below expectations, with many sections of the venue remaining sparsely occupied for much of the event.
Entertainment industry observers cited a combination of factors that may have contributed to the poor turnout.
These included the difficult economic environment, the growing number of competing entertainment events and public anxiety surrounding calls by some groups to protest against the recently enacted Constitutional Amendment No 3.
Some music fans told this publication they chose to stay away because they feared possible unrest in Harare following the calls for demonstrations, even though no major disturbances were reported during the festival.
“I had all along planned to go to this show, but the noise around protests made me change my mind at the last minute,” said Tabeth, a hairdresser based in Chitungwiza.
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“I called all my friends and they told me that they were staying at home.”
Anticipated anti-government demonstrations and a heavy security crackdown disrupted daily routines and public gatherings in Harare on Friday, with police monitoring key areas.
While most citizens opted to carry on with work or stay indoors rather than join mass street actions, heightened tensions created a sluggish pace for normal business and public events across the capital.
In the evening patrons and gig-goers largely stayed indoors due to fears of potential disruptions and security clashes.
Despite the disappointing turnout at the Cheso Power Festival, the artistes delivered energetic performances, with Macheso receiving a warm reception from the crowd.
