Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa found themselves in hot water this weekend in Zimbabwe. The outspoken duo, who never make a secret that they live a lavish life, had to part with R315,000 or else face jail time in the neighbouring country. the duo, which is popularly known as Scorpion Kings, found themselves in this mess because they had failed to perform at the Victoria Falls Carnival, despite pocketing booking fees, in the year. The festival was due to take place in April and the two alleged opted to go to another gig instead of pitching for the carnival, where they were the main act. A court ordered the duo's arrest hours before they staged a show in Bulawayo on Sunday. According to ZimLive.com, the duo was booked in Bulawayo on Sunday afternoon and flew in with their lawyer Katlego Malatji and "feared a sting in the tail after they accepted a booking to perform at Queens Cricket Ground, housing Boundary nightclub."

FAILURE TO PERFORM

The event organisers said the festival suffered a major blow to its reputation and pursued the two artists for a full refund (performance fees, air tickets, hotel bookings) and a public apology to the festival goers) but the two didn't oblige. The Carnival organisers said Maphorisa and Kabza showed total disregard for the contract.
'After the e-mail back-and-forth and threats of legal action, the two Amapiano pioneers anticipated trouble in Zimbabwe," a source confirms. This could explain why they travelled with their lawyer, Katlego Malatji. The duo could not have imagined a court ordering law enforcement agents to deliver them to the keeper of the Gaol at Bulawayo Prison.
"You are required and directed that you take Petrus Kabelo Motha and Themba Sonnyboy Sekowe of which they are found in Zimbabwe and deliver them to the Keeper of the Gaol at Bulawayo Prison, together with a copy of this Writ, there ro be safely kept until they are served with the summons against them issued by the High Court in  Bulawayo for a claim in the sum of US$18 395.82 or have provided security in the sum of US$18 395.82 to the Sheriff of the High Court in Bulawayo, or which ever comes first," reads the warrant for their arrest.

COPS CAMP OUTSIDE THEIR HOTEL

Their detention in jail, the court had said, it was going to keep them within its jurisdiction until the claim by the Victoria Falls Carnival organisers was satisfactorily disposed of. Lawyer Zibusiso Ncube , who was engaged by Malatji, explained that the effect of the High Court ruling was to attach their persons.
"My clients are from outside the jurisdiction of this court. So what the Victoria Falls Carnival organisers have done is to confirm the jurisdiction of this court. There are ways of doing that, if there is immovable property you can attach it but in this case there's no property so what was being attached are the persons, to arrest the persons so as to confirm the jurisdiction,' Ncube said.The source further said immigration officers, police and the sheriff of the high court all camped outside the Holiday Inn hotel at various times, as the two performers remained holed-up inside, unsure of their fate.

STRESSED BY THE SITUATION

If the matter went to trial, the lawyer said, Maphorisa and Kabza De Small would be required to attend court. Ncube said the two men were stressed by the situation, calling it a normal response by anyone in their situation. "Liberty is a fundamental right, and when it's fettered with naturally you're stressed,' the lawyer said.
Maphorisa's Personal Assistant Siya Qhawekazi refused to comment saying this matter did not involve her. "I'm not communicating with him and I won't share his details with you. DM him," she said. Maphorisa's booking manager failed to respond to our queries. The duo's phones also rang unanswered.