Music fan feared dead after assault at Zim music awards

A music fan who threw a can at Zimbabwe Dance Hall music multi award winner Winky D on Wednesday night is reported to have died at a Harare early Thursday morning after being assaulted by security personnel at the function.

The unidentified fan (pictured) is said to have thrown a beer can at the musician after he received his fourth award for the night. The fan was apparently protesting at the how the results were determined as he felt the process was rigged against his favourite artist Killer T who is a heavy rival to Winky D.

Reports from the function are that as soon as the visible drunk fan threw the can Winky D's bouncers pounced on him and pulled him out of the venue where he was severely assaulted. According to reports some youth who were outside the venue joined in the assault leaving the young man for dead before being rushed to Parirenyatwa Hospital where he is suspected to have passed on early Thursday morning.

A Bulawayo24 informant who witnessed the beating said the people who beat the man were so ruthless to a very helpless man who screamed for help and forgiveness like a little child.

"I have never seen such brutality from fellow human beings who seemed to have been enjoying beating a helpless man to a pulp in that manner," said the informant.

"The man was brought from inside the venue by some five bouncers already bleeding and they went on to thoroughly beat him before being joined in by some youth outside, one of them in a certain political party T shirt and berret (party name supplied)," said the witness.

Winky D was named the Best Male Artist provoking ugly scenes as Killer T's fans were not happy irate resulting in the irate fan throwing a can at the "Ninja President". Winky D beat Sniper, Killer T and Freeman for this award. He also won the Best Live Performer Award. For this he beat Dadza D, King Shaddy, Rick Fire and Kinnah. Winky D also walked away with the Best Social Message Award for Mafirakureva. But he shared this award with Jay C for Positive. Winky D's Tsamba Kuvashakabvu was named the Best Video. To top it all his manager scooped the Best Manager Award.

A police officer at the police post at the hospital could neither deny nor confirm the death of the fan referring all questions to his seniors at the press and liaison office who could not be immediately reached.