The Zimbabwe Music Awards will skip yet another year and may now be off the country’s musical calendar for good since no one seems interested in putting up the US$250 000 needed.

Zima director Carl Joshua Ncube, said cash sponsors were not forthcoming although there are promises of prizes in kind. But cash was needed for hiring the venue, paying for services, as well as padding out the prizes.

Zima has been on hold for the last two years with organisers battling to raise funds for the awards launched in 2004 and used to encourage and showcase Zimbabwean music.

The 2010 Zima was originally set for May 22 before it was moved to September 25, but now it appears like the even will not be held after all.

"We have shelved it for now," said Ncube.

"There were too many complications."

The last Zima was held in 2007. The following year it was cancelled after organisers failed to get funds in the last year of the great inflation.

Previous Zima winners include Pastor Charles Charamba, Kudzai Nyakudya, Jeys Marabini, Filbert Marowa and Afrika Revenge to name just a few.

But others are trying to put up a replacement.

Organisers of the newly launched Progressive Music Awards announced that the awards would be held in October.

Details are hazy at this stage, although it was said the awards will spread across genres including urban grooves, sungura, chimurenga and mbira.

Blessing Jeke, one of the organisers, said a local company was sponsoring the event, but could not give details of who this sponsor was, how much would be given and what the prizes would be.

"The official launch is set for September and the actual awards ceremony is scheduled for October," Jeke said.

It remains to be seen whether the Progressive Music Awards would reach the same heights as Zima.