BCC turns down Star Brite request

Star Brite organisers, Events R Us' request to use the Large City Hall in Bulawayo for free to stage auditions has  been turned down by the city council, NewsDay reports.

According to the latest council minutes, Events R Us sent a letter requesting to use the venue for free.

"We seek usage of the Bulawayo City Hall as your sponsorship contribution for us to record auditions for contestants in your province at no cost," said the letter written by Events R Us director, Barney Mpariwa.

"The Star Brite auditions at your venue will be for the convenience of Bulawayo residents and provincial inhabitants.

"When we have notable talent from Bulawayo like we did with Xolani Ndlovu in season one, they will invariably give a good name to your city and your province. We feel the venue is ideal for the quality of work which we wish to produce in the City of Kings".

Mpariwa went on to say that they already had 300 would-be contestants and were "expecting over 500 more on site contestants to attend the three-day event".

However, BCC's General Purposes Committee turned down the request.

"The committee resolved that the request by Barney Mpariwa for free use of the Large City Hall be not acceded to. Instead, the group (Star Brite) should be granted a 50% rebate on the hire charges."

Last month, council turned down a request by the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) organisers to use the Large City Hall for free.
Nama had to set up a taskforce whose other mandate was
to fundraise for payment of the venue.

They had to fork out more than $4 000 for use of the venue.