The Nando’s Comedy festival that was scheduled for December 15 at 7 Arts Theatre has been cancelled. This follows the political row in Zimbabwe over a Nando’s South Africa advert that portrayed President Robert Mugabe cutting a lonely figure after the demise of Muammar Gaddafi and other dictators.
Caroline Nyadzayo, Nando’s spokesperson confirmed the cancellation of the show.
“It was not proper for us to continue with the event given the picture that has been painted of our organisation. If we had gone ahead, it simply would have aggravated the situation,” said Nyadzayo.
The coming of the comedians would have been far less than comic for Nando’s as some of the artists that were scheduled to perform are well known for ridiculing President Mugabe.
The list included Kagiso Lediga and Loyiso Gola who are in the same stable as Trevor Noah. On the tour they were supposed to be accompanied by South Africa based Zimbabwean, Carl Joshua Ncube.
Speaking from his base in South Africa, Ncube said he was disappointed that Nando’s SA had been that insensitive.
“I understand that is why it has been cancelled. I am still saddened that we are casualties of Nando’s South Africa’s campaign.
