Refurbished New Life livens Budiriro

As a result State galas such as Independence Day, Heroesplush or even Unity Day gala attract massive crowds and people tend to have a time of their lives as these events come to their areas only once if not never in the whole year. The most affected, however, are those who live in the rural areas.
In towns and cities such as Harare, the situation is much better as a number of events are organised and artistes jostle to get the opportunity to visit some entertainment “hotspots” dotted around the city. But entertainment for the family still remains a pipedream except for The Commissioner-General’s Funfair which this year saw a record crowd attending such that the few fun rides, jumping castles, etc., could not cope.
While entertainment spots in towns and cities, in Harare particularly, are largely night clubs and bars where beer drinking and disco music is the main menu, little investment is put into providing real places where patrons can go to and socialise in an environment which suits their different tastes and preferences.
The situation is particularly dire in high-density areas where there are virtually no “decent” places to patronise except for rag-tag beerhalls and nightclubs that are nothing more
than beer-selling dungeons where howling music is the only source of entertainment. This situation has forced many in these high-density areas to look elsewhere for entertainment – most people go into the city centre in search of quality entertainment only to leave late into night on a long journey back home.
Nonetheless, some businessmen have seen this as the opportunity to tap into an area that needs investment so badly – and Fidellis Ngove is one of them.
Ngove has taken over the defunct Club Lashers and refurbished it and is now operating as New Life Nite Club.
Another night spot in Budiriro, Matombo (Charehwa) Bar opened late last year and is one of the places you can count on for a night out for those who enjoy nights out.
In Glen Norah, Hwenje’s Village, which opened last month, has given a new breath of life to clubbing in high-density areas.
New Life, as the name suggests, has been given a new life: The inside has been fully renovated and now has a Special Bar for that type of “clientele that had been ignored by the business community”.
The Special Bar, which is in the main bar, is furnished with comfortable chairs and sofas and is a non-smoking area.
The walls are mounted with plasma screens and a projector in the main ensures the big crowds can watch their favourite sporting events without straining their necks.
Though the kitchen is not yet functional, Ngove said he wants to engage a professional caterer to take care of the food business.
“Our major strength though,” he said, “is the fact that we always have all local beer types in stock. We are in the process of building up the stocks for wines and whiskies for the Special Bar. I would like the Special Bar to be my main point of focus and I will make sure I raise the standards to the satisfaction of that customer. I believe socialisation is very important and this is one place these people can come and socialise.”
“I would also like to always make sure that there are types of beverages such as Coke Zero for those clients and customers who are diabetic. Though I don’t get much from the Coke Zero sales, I am offering it as a service.”
New Life will this Friday be hosting Sulumani Chimbetu and on the 26th, Macheso.
Ngove said the wide space in the main bar is enough to host the huge crowds that are a normal feature whenever the two musicians are playing.
Hwenje’s Village boasts of a gazebo in the backyard where patrons and revellers can drink, make some braai and relax – just buy your meat and it will be braaied for you and you get sadza for free.
Hwenje’s provides an alternative to the open air outing in Glen Norah (KwaFarai), a replica of KwaMereki in Warren Park, and has running water and clean restrooms.
It remains to be seen, however, whether these night spots maintain and improve the standards they have set. Many have run-down their premises to such an extent that they have become health hazards.
It is also an expectation of many that business community would also consider developing other places for entertainment for the whole family such as recreational facilities and amazement parks. Even a luna park can do the trick for entertainment for the family.
In Harare, the only place that’s left for entertainment for kids is the Greenwood Park. The Harare Gardens are in a dilapidated condition that it is safer to climb and play football in a tree than it is to take your children there. Hope the city fathers will consider reviving the kids’ playground seriously – the swings and stuff need urgent attention.