Musician-cum-event organiser Biggie Lu has appealed to the public to help bail him out of the financial mess the controversy which marred the Winter Amapiano Vibes has thrown him into

The event, slated for last Saturday at The Dominic Hotel in Blantyre, did not go as planned as government banned headliner South African exotic dancer Zodwa Wabantu and the hotel’s staff went on strike on the day of the event.

Seeking assistance: Biggie Lu

The confusion created by the two developments  resulted in people shunning the otherwise highly-publicised event.

In the aftermath of the controversy, Biggie Lu took to social media to voice his frustrations and ask for assistance from well-wishers.

“Seriously, I need your help right now. If you can assist, please contact me. Napapata [I am pleading with you],” he posted on his Facebook page a day after the event.

After the initial post, Biggie Lu made yet another post, saying: “I am okay guys. Thank you for all those that have reached out. Some of you wouldn’t understand the pressure and what is going on right now. I hope you soon know.”

When The Nation sought his views on Sunday and yesterday, he said he was not in a space to offer interviews.

In a separate interview, Joe Chingayipe, a radio personality who was at the venue, said the few people who went for the show were forced to return because the entrance closed by striking workers.

He said: “I got to the venue around 3pm, but nothing had started yet. We were informed that the staff at the place were on strike and had closed the entrance. We waited until after 5pm when the few people  present dispersed.”

Our efforts to get the official position from The Dominics Hotel management did not yield much as one of the facility’s managers, who only identified himself as Wakisa, refused to grant us an interview.

“I am sorry, but I cannot give information to strangers boss. You have just introduced yourself to me informally,” that was all he said during the brief exchange.

Arts commentator Wonderful Mkutche said the promoter of the show should not look up to the general public for assistance but rather take up the issue with institutions directly involved in disturbing the event.

He said: “He can seek legal redress and through that he can recover his money. He must take the bull by its horns. This should also be taken as an opportunity to address similar situations for posterity sake.”

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