Traditional Dance Group Challenges Midlands Chibuku NeShamwari Disqualification

Gweru – Tansh Kwayedza Edutainment is challenging its disqualification from the Chibuku NeShamwari Midlands Provincial Traditional Dance Competition finals held in Kwekwe on Saturday, saying the group's disqualification was unfair.

Competition organisers, however, maintain the group was disqualified for violating the competition's constitution.

Tansh Kwayedza Edutainment Director, Anne Homu, said her group was removed from the competition without being presented with sufficient evidence of wrongdoing.

"We have been camped in Kwekwe since June 13 preparing for the provincial finals.

"We incurred accommodation, food and transport costs, only to be told we had been disqualified," Homu said.

She said the group chose to rehearse in Kwekwe because it was a convenient meeting point for members travelling from different areas.

Homu denied allegations that the group recruited dancers from outside the Midlands Province, as it is alleged, saying the decision to base the team in Kwekwe had nothing to do with violating competition rules.

She further alleged that she had received information suggesting the outcome of the provincial competition had already been decided before the event.

However, Homu did not provide tangible evidence to support the claim and Kwedu News could not independently verify the authenticity of the purported winners list she referred to.

Before the split: Members of Tansh Kwayedza Edutainment pictured together when the troupe was still intact, prior to the formation of Mhukahuru Traditional Dance Group.

Responding to the allegations, Zimbabwe National Traditional Dancers Association (ZNTDA) Midlands Vice-Chairperson, Robson Banda, said the association acted strictly in accordance with the competition's rules.

"These allegations (of winners before the competition) are false and stem from bitterness over the disqualification.

"Our constitution does not permit groups to recruit dancers from outside their province.

"The board determined that the rules had been breached and therefore had no option but to disqualify the group," Banda said.

He added that the regulations apply equally to all participating groups regardless of their past achievements.

An organising committee member, who requested anonymity due to protocol, said investigations indicated that Tansh Kwayedza Edutainment had recruited dancers from a Kadoma-based group, contrary to the competition's rules.

The official alleged that organisers became concerned after learning the group had relocated its rehearsals to Kwekwe.

"They were asked why they had chosen to camp in Kwekwe. It later emerged that the location was convenient for dancers allegedly coming from Kadoma," the official claimed.

The committee member also rejected allegations that the competition was being manipulated in favour of the 2026 runners up, Mhukahuru Traditional Dance Group, saying the outfit was formed independently by former members of Tansh Kwayedza Edutainment who where disgruntled over a series of illegularities.

Homu however dismissed the allegations, insisting neither she nor her group had breached the competition's constitution and maintained that organisers had not produced evidence to substantiate the accusations.

The Chibuku NeShamwari Traditional Dance Competition is organised through a partnership between the Zimbabwe National Traditional Dancers Association (ZNTDA), Delta Beverages and the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ).

Ten dance groups were competing in this year's Midlands provincial finals at Patsime Tavern in Mbizo, Kwekwe, with the winners, Chipolopolo Zambia Gure from Kwekwe advancing to the national finals to compete for the US$15,000 grand prize.

Mhukahuru Chinyambera from Gweru were second, and Zikuvave Gure Malawi were third.

The disagreement has cast a spotlight on the competition's disciplinary processes, with Tansh Kwayedza Edutainment contesting the decision while organisers maintain the disqualification was made in accordance with the competition's constitution.

"The board was left with no option but to disqualify her group this year. We cannot fold our hands and ignore a member who violates our supreme constitution.

"The rules apply equally to everyone, regardless of their previous achievements," Banda said.

At provincial level, winners walked away with US$2 500, while the second and third-placed groups received US$1 500 and US$1 000 respectively.

At national level, the winning group will pocket US$15 000, with the runners-up receiving US$10 000 and US$7 500 respectively.