Zimbabweans are in a good mood, even with proclamations of an impending national election within a month, there are festivities all around.A fortnight ago all roads led to Harare for the annual Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa) yet this week they lead to Mutare for the inaugural Mutare Festival, a three-day music and soccer fiesta.Next week, fun lovers make a date with the Harare International Carnival and Jeys Marabini’s Bulawayo Comes Alive music festivals to be held in the capital and second capital cities respectively.

Could this be that May is indeed a month of mid-year festivities?“I believe so, because this is when we say goodbye to the rains but are also saying winter here we come,” said the Mutare Festival organiser, Partson Chimbodza aka Chipaz. The reigning National Arts Merit Award (Nama) Music Promoter of the Year highlighted that this was the time that people usually come out briefly to celebrate a little bit of sunshine and dry weather before heavy winter sets in.

Slated for this weekend, the Mutare Festival’s main venue will be the magnificent Pick & Save, where the opening show will feature superstar Oliver Mtukudzi, Alick Macheso, Suluman Chimbetu, Peter Moyo and Hosiah Chipanga.

Fresh from tours abroad, Tuku, as Mtukudzi is popularly known by his adoring fans, will be out to spoil them after a long absence, while compatriot Chipanga, who is now permanently based in his home town of Mutare, will be out to defend his territory.

Zhakata, long labelled a spent force, last year returned to showbiz with a bang and is not showing signs of slowing down. The Mugove hit-maker, once a stadium material performer, will obviously be in the hunt for old and new fans in Mutare.It is, however, the duo of sungura king Macheso, the newly appointed Zimbabwe Red Cross Society humanitarian ambassador, and the young energetic multi-award-winning dendera crooner, Suluman, who will attract most of the attention.

 The Sean Timba hit-maker, who is enjoying run-away success, which includes his unprecedented full house afternoon performance at the just-ended Hifa, will be out to prove that his phenomenal rise is not a fluke.But the revitalised Macheso, who has been playing eight-hour marathon performances, will also be out to prove that he is neither a spent force nor one to be pushed over easily.And, although, the Young Igwe (Peter Moyo) may not have freshly baked products on the market, Utakataka Express fans know that something is baking in the oven, and they shall want a bite before it hits shop shelves.

 All Peter has to do is perform a repeat of the Dr Nero commemoration show — who knows, he could even emerge the man of the night as he prepares for another shot at the man-of-the-match feat during the soccer match the following day.Dhewa, as Peter is also known by music fans, was the man of the match at a Musicians v Zim Soccer Legends soccer match played at Rufaro Stadium in Harare earlier this year. This Saturday the second leg of that match will take place at Sakubva Stadium, in a charity match that promises fireworks both on and off the pitch as raunchy dancers Zoey and Bev are touted as the medics.Said Chipaz: “We are catering for everyone with this festival, because soon after the match people will be headed back to Pick & Save for the ‘after bhora’ party, which will feature the finest reggae/dancehall artistes.”

Guspy Warrior, King Shaddy, Jah Prayzah, Sniper Storm, Freeman, Jay C and Juicer Mupostori will serenade fans after the soccer match in what is expected to be an explosive gig as the young musicians try to steal the thunder from one another.To cap the fun-filled weekend, Chipaz has lined up a gospel extravaganza featuring Baba naMai Charamba, Blessing Shumba, Mathias Mhere, Sabastian Magacha and Agatha on Sunday.“We tried to have a little bit of everything from sungura, dancehall, and gospel to even soccer. So this festival hopefully will leave the people of Mutare satisfied.

“We are trying to rotate this ‘Chipaz Bhora’ concept because we do not want anyone to feel left out. People tend to think that all good things are reserved for Harare and this is our way of saying no, resources permitting, we would go to every corner of this country,” he said.