The Sunday Mail
FROM the Gwanda Gospel Music Festival to Miss Tourism Zimbabwe, and now the Harare International Carnival, Big Time Strategic Group is the common denominator.
The company, owned by South Africa-based Zimbabwean businessman Justice Maphosa, continues to splash millions of United States dollars in local showbiz. In fact, the carnival has rebranded to Big Time Harare International Carnival in honour of the big bucks set to be poured into it. Although local representatives of Big Time Strategic Group were evasive when it came to actual sponsorship figures, there is no doubt that the pockets are deep.
The fact that the extravaganza has been rebranded to Big Time Harare International Carnival gives a hint as to the financial muscle being flexed. The carnival, themed, “One Love – Our Unity Our Pride”, will take place from the first of September to the 10th with the marquee being the street party on September 9.
If Big Time is planning to recreate the magic it brought to last year’s Miss Tourism Zimbabwe at the HICC, then merrymakers are definitely in for a treat come September. This comes as good news considering that a few months ago, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority had thrown in the towel, having struggled to secure funding for the carnival. Last year the people of Harare were disappointed as organisers kept on shifting dates and ended up scrapping the carnival altogether.
At a Press conference in the capital last week, ZTA and their anchor sponsor gave the impression that this year, only an act of God could stop the carnival. The company has also expressed interest in uniting two of the country’s biggest modelling pageants, Miss Tourism and Miss World Zimbabwe.
In a statement read on his behalf, ZTA boss Karikoga Kaseke said while Government had availed sufficient funds for a carnival, they were happy to have such a sponsor in their corner. “We are gratified that Government through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has already given us adequate funds to deliver an excellent carnival akin to its standards of being the biggest street party in Southern Africa,” said Kaseke. “Moreso, we have been fortunate to have found a reliable partner and sponsor with whom we have a shared vision of the carnival.”
Kaseke added that they had a good relationship with the sponsor. “The sustainable partnership we have with the Big Time Strategic Group has seen them intimately supporting our programmes. So this year among other critical things they will give us the main stage, public address system, the lighting equipment, sponsorship of both local and regional artistes.”
While the actual turnout for the last edition are debatable, what is undisputed is that tens of thousands of people flooded Harare’s CBD for the street party. This year, organisers have dubbed it the “three-million-man carnival”, which sounds extremely ambitious considering that the whole population of Harare and its metropolitan area is estimated at 2,5 million. Well, anything is possible in this age of miracles.
Eighteen countries participated in the 2015 carnival and the ZTA has indicated it is targeting 25 this time around considering the excitement the event stirred in the region. The route for the street party, which used to start at the Rotten Row Magistrates’ Courts, with the procession heading into the CBD, has also been changed.
“This year we are converging on the eastern side of the CBD and proceeding to the Robert Mugabe Square, opposite Rainbow towers. That’s where the main stage will be mounted for a Carnival musical concert,” the ZTA said.
People in other parts of Zimbabwe will also get a feel of the festivities with the ZTA creating Carnival Fiestas in Mutare, Masvingo, Gweru and Bulawayo.
