CONTROVERSY surrounds reggae-dancehall star Winky D’s (born Wallace Chirimuko) failure to perform at President Robert Mugabe’s inauguration gala held last week at the National Sports Stadium following contrasting statements about the musician’s whereabouts during the event. Entertainment Reporter
Earlier indications were that Winky D was in Victoria Falls on the day, while his manager Jonathan Banda claims the musician was at a funeral in Murewa.
“Winky D failed to attend the event because he was attending his grandmother’s funeral in Murewa,” Banda said.
Quizzed why he had not communicated the bereavement to event organisers, Banda became evasive.
“Jah Man, I told you why Winky D did not perform and that is all. Why are you asking unnecessary questions? The issue of that communication is between me, as his manager, and the event co-ordinator, not the Press.”
Banda added that he did not want to start a war by countering what the organisers of the event had said because he had read some contradictory articles in the Press.
Retired Major Anywhere Mutambudzi of the Media, Information and Publicity ministry, who was part of the event organisers, earlier told this publication that although he does not usually want to communicate artistes’ issues to the Press, he was disappointed by Winky D’s behaviour.
Meanwhile, Winky D will have a chance to compensate his fans when he performs at Rainbow Towers Gardens on Saturday.
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