…Will a record breaking show be set?

Ngoni Dapira

MUTARE’s new colossal entertainment leisure centre, Gusheshe Leisure Centre, is near completion as it gears up for its second show that will bring the multi-award winning, undisputed man of the moment in the music circles, Jah Prayzah to perform tomorrow (Friday) night.

The show starts at 6pm. The standard ticket is going for $10, VIP $20 and VVIP $40.

Men at work building the burnouts arena and pavement at the venue in preparation for the show.

Easterntimeszim Lifestyle visited the new entertainment place where construction is fast being done to prepare for the summer entertainment jamboree events lined up starting from tomorrow up to October. Situated along Vumba Road in Nyakamete Industrial Area a few metres just after turning at the Sakubva Green Market (Murahwa Market) traffic lights, the new open air space is promising to make lasting moments when it comes to live shows in Mutare. The former CJ Motors garage has now been partly turned into an entertainment hub whilst the other section remains a truck parking zone.

The director of Gusheshe Leisure Centre Clide Jani said the idea is to have a colossal centre to host shows in a secure environment, with international shows in mind as well in the near future.

The centre dubbed Gusheshe, by Jani, a colloquial for the BMW motorsport spinning or burnouts cars, is set not only to become a concerts venue but also a burnouts arena. Jani who is an avid spinner with his own local team of spinners, team Win No Lose, said the leisure centre will be a game changer and one of a kind in the eastern border city.

Clide Jani explains what the burnouts arena will be like after it is complete.

Spinning is an extreme entertainment sport usually orchestrated by professional drivers and stuntmen in a safely barricaded area. The idea in burnouts is to keep the vehicle stationary while spinning its wheels, causing the tyres to heat up and smoke due to friction. When the tyres burst quickly during the spinning exploits, it shows how good the driver is.

The VIP section.

The spacious leisure centre boasts of two commodious lounges for the VVIP and VIP, with an expansive open space for the standard ticket revelers. The VVIP and VIP sections have separate braai areas and separate bars.  The stage is spacious and well elevated for a good view for everyone whilst a towering precast wall that barricades the venue ensures gate crashers stand no chance of freebies.

Inside the VIP section.

“We will be done with the pavement for the Jah Prayzah show, but its still work in progress as we want to make this place a modern open air venue. I am still to build a changing room which will also be a lounge for the artists before the show, but this will be complete in the next few months. This show was supposed to be held August 3 but moved it due to the SADC Summit,” explained Jani, the businessman cum politician who lost last years parliamentary elections for the Dangamvura constituency as his first election debacle.

Final touches…The stage in the background is well elevated for all to clearly see musicians perform.

The first show at the venue was in June by super star Alick Macheso. Jani said it was a good turnout but they had not yet done construction works so revelers are now guaranteed of better conditions at the second show tomorrow as they continue to do touch ups and renovations at the open air centre.

A view of the spacious venue from the entrance.

This will be another litmus test for Jah Prayzah to break his own Mutare record after drawing over 4000 people at his last show held at Manicaland Motoring Club last year in November. The lanky artist whose real name is Mukudzeyi Mukombe has finesse and charisma on stage which drives the ladies crazy. His music keeps growing from strength to strength with each album launch which has made him one of the most sought after musicians in the country who does not disappoint when it come to live performances. The supporting acts will be the dynamic Enzo Ishall of the ‘Magate’ fame and lively entertainer Jah Signal of the ‘Usabvume’ hit song.

The summer jamboree shows lined up at Gusheshe Leisure Centre.

Jani said after the Jah Prayzah show there will be the Chill Spot Recordz 991 Riddim launch on September 14 sponsored by the new ambulance service, Discovery Ambulance Services, marketing its toll free number 991. The DJ Fantan and DJ Levels celebrated Zimdancehall and reggae music production house will bring its plethora of Zimdancehall artists for the show which is billed to be a massive Zimdancehall fiesta. This will be followed by the Mutare Jamzone show on September 21 pitting Nutty O and Holy Ten with other supporting acts, then on October 12 the Spin Show which will officially open the burnouts arena.

Clide Jani of CJ Motors, and team Win No Lose, flexing his spinning skills during a Mutare burnouts show at Manicaland Motoring Club in 2021.