Anglicans on Sunday celebrated Palm Sunday as they prepared for the Holy week. The processions were led by different priests in different areas.
Palm Sunday reminds Christians of the journey Jesus made into Jerusalem, on a donkey, to celebrate the Jewish festival of Passover (Pesach). Jesus chose a donkey to show that he had come in peace. Many people welcomed Jesus by shouting, waving palm branches and throwing branches down in the path of the donkey.
Chipo Ndoda an Anglican told RelZim Palm Sunday is also known as Passion Sunday and marks the beginning of Easter
“Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the Holy week as Jesus begins his journey to the cross. It is when Christians remember the last week of Jesus’ life. There are many church services and processions,” she said.
The Holy week begins Monday with Anglicans having prayers for the whole week.
Takura Moyo,who was with his Palm cross after church, said the holy week was the most important event in his religious calendar.
“As we start the holy week we feel blessed because this is the week that we renew our vows with God as Jesus dies for us on good Friday. It is an important week and we will be remembering that indeed Jesus died for our sins and delivered us.”
Christians wave Palm branches symbolizing the way the crowds greeted when Jesus entered Jerusalem by waving palm branches and covering his path with palm branches.
Heal the World Ministries International pastor, apostle S Mahovo of Kwekwe, has published a book about faith which he launched over the weekend.
The 47-paged booked titled Unlocking Your Faith was launched at a colourful ceremony and the author described it as a simplified guide to enjoying the gifts of God.
“We have seen people shying away from God’s Word and work because they think it’s such a complicated process, yet it is not so through personal experiences and revelations from God. I wrote a simplified guide to attaining blessings from God,” he told journalists.
Mahovo who has become one of the most known pastors in Kwekwe, had the first copy of his book auctioned for $2 555 at the launch attended by high profile bankers, lawyers and mayor Matenda Madzoke.
Madzoke hailed Mahovo for penning the book which he said would not only bring salvation to the nation, but also put Kwekwe on the literature map.
“We have been lagging behind on the literature front and I am glad that the apostle found time to write a book which will not only save this nation from sins, but also put the city high up on the map,” he said.
The book details how faith is at the centre of receiving God’s blessings.
“Essentially the power of God is like electrical voltage which requires a regulator to control its impact on the recipient. Therefore, that’s how faith comes into play,” Mahovo said.
“Without faith, the immeasurable power from heaven would overwhelm you and ultimately destroy what it is meant to uplift.”
The Anglican Church of the Province of Central Africa say they will use the Easter holidays to celebrate “new life and resurrection”.
In his Easter message, CPCA head, Bishop Chad Gandiya, said a lot of positive things had happened in the Church which were in themselves a manifestation of new life.
The CPCA in November 2012 won a five year protracted battle for control of its properties which had been seized by renegade Bishop, Nolbert Kunonga, who was ex-communicated from the Church in 2008.
Since then, the Anglican Church has embarked on various projects with the latest being their intention to build a university.
Said Gandiya: “As we celebrate Easter this year, let us remember that the resurrection is not only about Jesus being raised from the dead or your body being raised at the end of time. It is more than that. It is about being raised from seemingly hopeless tombs with which we are often entrapped.
“To believe in the resurrection is to believe that nothing is impossible with God and thus impossible for you either today , right here and now.”
Recently, the CPCA donated various goods to victims of the Tokwe Mukosi floods.
“Our response as a diocese to the Tokwe Mukosi national disaster was a resurrection as it brought hope to some families. Every time we bring hope into a situation, every time we alleviate suffering , every time we forgive others and give them the dignity and the possibility with us and others in the community or the church, we bring people from the dead,” said Gandiya.
Catholic students at the Midlands State University (MSU) have paid school fees for six primary school students in Gweru as their Lenten sacrifice.
Catholic Society at MSU (CATHSOC MSU) pledged to pay school fees for underprivileged children at Senga Government School as an almsgiving gesture in this period of lent. The gesture which saw six children; two girls and four boys benefiting was a response to the Church’s call to give and help the poor.
The idea of Lenten sacrifice was initiated by the National Movement of Catholic Students (NMCS) Executive that encouraged all CATHSOCs across the country to look for what they can do in the period of lent to help those in need in the communities they live in.
NMCS president Kudakwashe Matambo applauded the togetherness and commitment shown by members of MSU CATHSOC in helping the needy emphasizing that students should be involved in charity work which helps grow the Catholic faith.
“As students we must take responsibility in helping those who are poor and in lent we are called to complement our fasting and prayer with almsgiving. Lenten sacrifice also helps us to strengthen and keep in touch with our faith”, said Kudakwashe Matambo.
Responding to the call of the church in the period of lent, CATHSOC MSU executive saw it vital to help potential children who they meet and talk to everyday on their way to and from the main campus; who are struggling to raise school fees most of them being orphans.
“We talked to the school Headmistress that we want to donate stationery to the underprivileged students and she advised that it would be better if we pay school fees for them since having stationery without lessons might be a high sounding nothing for them, so the Headmistress with the aid of the teachers chose us six intelligent but financially challenged pupils that we paid for”, said Paul Nyamadzawo the CATHSOC Organizing Secretary.
CATHSOC MSU also stretched its hands to a double orphaned Grade 3 pupil at the same school whom they will pay school fees for till she finishes primary education. The pupil was chosen by teachers after acknowledging her brilliance in the academic circles.
The society’s Organizing Secretary expressed his appreciation of the effort made by those who made the move and all programmes possible.
“I’m quite impressed with the dedication the people have towards the society which makes it easy for us to coordinate all the programmes we endeavor to do.
Special mention to Fr Regis Rubaya our society and regional Chaplain, Sr Rubaya our spiritual advisor, Sekuru Njini and TeteMunyaka and the Gweru Diocese Pastoral office for their unending and unconditional support and advice they give to us as the society”, expressed Paul Nyamadzawo.
This is the question which most people ask themselves each moment players from their beloved teams line up at the goalposts while others take it to the center circle where they bow down before having a short prayer.
It is also very common in our local football especially with Dembare and Makepekepe soccer players who are well known for seeking divine intervention before every match.
The Dembare team will do their divine ritual across the goal line while Makepekepe invades the center circle.
It has emerged that these two teams and others as well will never kick start a match without the prayer. The question therefore remains, do prayers really help players? Or it is just a belief that has engulfed most of local players?
Last year, former Dynamos coach Lloyd Mutasa made headlines through his superstitious move of sprinkling every player with ‘Holy water’ before every match, all in a bid to emerge as the winner.
Before the millennium, both local and regional soccer players were known of using magical powers often referred to as ‘Juju’ as almost every player fortified himself for glory.
There were often tales of goalkeepers claiming to see a hare speeding towards the goal area while others would claim to see short men in every corner of the pitch, but all these hallucinations have become a thing of the past.
African players have resorted to God’s power. The recent Africa Cup of Nations saw almost every player resorting to God’s power but it was only Zambia’s Stoppila Sunzu who took the last and winning penalty with his lips moving like those of the biblical Hannah, seemed to have his prayer answered.
Sports persons from Muhammad Ali to Jonathan Edwards, the triple jumper, have all spoken about the power of faith.
They believe in different theologies, but all would assert they have benefited from their convictions. As Ali put it in the build-up to his clash with George Foreman in 1974, “How can I lose with Allah on my side?”
A good example again is the Brazilian team which combines prayer with on the field success.
Midfielder Kaka is well known for his celebration routine where he points both fingers to heaven or to reveal a t-shirt printed “I belong to Jesus”.
But this belief is not created out of nowhere; it is manufactured within a context. Anything that imbues the treatment with greater authenticity will strengthen belief.
Argentinean legend Diego Maradona thanked the ‘Hand of God’ when he deceived the world after scoring using a hand.
The placebo effect provides one possible explanation as to why those with religious beliefs have better healthy outcomes.
It’s not just ‘Christian sportsmen’ who believe the power of God in their sporting activities but other religious sects too for example the Muslims and Bhudaists. It would seem that it is not the content, but the strength of belief that matters.
According to Anne Harrington, Professor of Medical history at Havard University puts it: There is an innate capacity for our bodies to bring into being, to the best of their ability, the optimistic scenario in which we fervently believe”
Even away from faith, there are examples where belief can appear to change outcomes in sport. Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has worn the same shin pads since he was 16 while Manchester United’s Nani plays with his socks the wrong way round.
Residents and property owners here in Kwekwe have expressed some disgruntlement over church posters that are illegally and misplaced on undesignated areas.
The public outcry comes after there has been a rampant increase in church posters being plastered on city buildings to advertise activities of various man of God, resulting in the defacement of the city.
A snap survey conducted by RelZim showed that the face of the city has lost its aura due to the church posters that are defacing the city.
Speaking in an interview with, Tsitsi Kahondo, a property owner said that the placement of posters on undesignated areas in the city needs urgent attention.
“Church posters that are illegally placed on city buildings have become a menace. The beauty of the city which we were once proud of seems to be fading as a result of church posters”.
“The recently held prayer convention by Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa, dubbed Judgement Night 2, was advertised in a manner that the posters were unsystematically plastered on city wall, private buildings and even on road signs. Makandiwa posters were just chaotically everywhere”.
“This behaviour is intolerable, church people must not behave like goblins, which just put posters on private buildings without any consultation. It is a crime actually. This goes to all church leaders who have their people who place posters on undesignated areas”, he said.
Calvin Chahuruva a motorist said that local authorities must work in handy with property owners and drag irresponsible church leaders before the courts.
“Church leaders must act responsibly. Posters advertising their activities are even put on road signs and this can cause accidents. Previously it was musical posters, but now the tables have changed, the church is now leading the undesired behavior”
“Pillars in the city have been turned into billboards and it is giving an ugly look to onlookers and travellers”
“These irresponsible church leaders must be dragged to courts”, he said.
A resident, who spoke to RelZim, said the blame must be put on local authorities who are failing to erect boards in the public where anyone who want to place a poster can do so.
“Posters are communicating messages effectively and I am happy that they do inform me of certain religious functions. The blame must not be put on church leaders, but on the local authority. They must create space for anyone who wants to advertise anything using posters. The failure by the local authority to offer such boards has forced church poster to be plastered even on city buildings”, said Chenesai Makamba.
Gunhill is one of the leafy suburbs in the country and most people would love to stay in the plush habitat. In this neighbourhood, just after Churchhill Road along Domboshava Road, one comes across a house with a white precast wall and a green gate.
Outside the house, green and well-manicured lawn spreads to make an attractive turf that inevitably catches the attention of passers-by.
This is the house that harbours the country’s great musical talent. This is where musicians Pastor Charles and wife Olivia stay. They call them gospel music’s first family.
As we visit them on a sunny afternoon, the green gate automatically slides to let us in just after we announce our arrival.
We follow a brown-brick driveway leading to the house, passing by a swimming pool and a big gazebo to our left.
We park outside a garage sheltering a cream Toyota Estima and white Nissan Tiena. There is also a tractor outside the garage.
Inside the living room a number of portraits of the musician and his family as well as enlarged sleeves of their albums hang on the walls.
The sleeves tell a story of a great musical journey the gospel music couple has travelled. This is their story:
“I stayed in Chitungwiza in Unit M, Zengeza 4, St Mary’s and Zengeza 5. I got married in 1996 while I was staying in St Mary’s. My heart belongs to Chitungwiza although God has taken us here,” said Pastor Charamba.
Interestingly, the musician could not stress any point without referring to his wife who was sitting next to him.
“God has blessed us in a great way and we thank Him for taking us this far.
“Music is a talent from God and we thank our fans for accepting our music. We have also been blessed with a good family.”
The two have five children Shalom, Eternity, Tagamuchira, Timukudze and Avenemi.
“In our song ‘Komborerai Vana’ we were praying for our children and we are happy that they abide by what we teach them.”
His two children Shalom and Eternity showed us some notes on music they got from their parents.
“After they finish their homework we just give them these notes to learn in their part time,” he explained.
He took us to the Fishers Of Men Studios in the house where they work on their songs.
The studio is furnished with all the necessary requirements.
The “Nyika Zimbabwe” singer also sampled some of his new songs but emphasised they have no specific time of release.
“We have a lot of recorded songs but we have no specific time for release but what we can assure our fans is that the songs will be on the market one day.”
The studio has video filming equipment meant for hire.
“We have an instruments and video filming equipment for hire and they are under the Fishers of Men label.”
So their life is all about music?
“We have a farm in Goromonzi. We usually go to the farm and work there on our spare time and that tractor you saw at the garage outside has come here for service,” he said.
And talking about the garage, one would expect such a successful family to have top-of-the-range vehicles that are even driven by musicians far below the Charambas’ level but the musician thinks otherwise.
“We did not invest much in cars and we just want to keep it that way and to us these two cars are enough for the family.”
Having done much of the talking during the interview, Pastor Charamba lets his wife give a parting shot.
“We pray that God continues to bless us. We love our fans and we are prepared to continue serving them.
We are preparing good music for them. Just be patient, albums are coming. We will always do our best for you.”
National Movement of Catholic Students (NMCS) converged at Kriste Mambo from the 17th -21st of April for their Easter conference where they engaged in community service doing some charity work at Manhinga village, a children’s home, where they assisted with harvesting maize and beans and also planted some trees .
Manhinga Village was founded in 1982 by Dr Dijaga, a white man who was living in Mutare back then with the zeal of helping the needy in that community. The village which is owned by AFM church in Zimbabwe caters for the orphans and currently houses 90 children from all over the country through the aid of social welfare.
Manhinga also has a Primary School at the same place that provides the intellectual aspect to the children housed at the village.
Subsistence farming is practiced thereby providing the residents with home grown food, different crops and vegetables. They also have four dairy cows that provide milk for the children and 34 beef cows and honey farming as well.
Members of NMCS who visited the place were so curious to see the children, unfortunately only 4 infants were present as the rest of the community has been taken for holiday.
“During holidays we dispatch children into the communities. Some go to their relatives and those without relatives go to our church institutions in the country and to some willing church members for them to learn to integrate with different people so that it will not be difficult for them when they engage the community” said Ms Muzii the village coordinator.
She went on to express her gratitude to all the students for making things lighter for them especially in the harvesting aspect.
“As I have told you before that during holidays we dole out children to some communities, it was going to be very difficult for us to do all the field work alone” she said.
Currently the Village has 4 students at Midlands State University, one at University of Zimbabwe and a good number at Chibuwe High School in Chipinge and Rufaro High School in Masvingo.
The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference once described Zimbabwe as a young nation searching for its soul. That perspective is even more apt during Easter. Without too many material distractions, at least for the majority of Zimbabweans, Easter gives us an opportunity to do both some thorough collective searching for our soul and individual soul searching.
A quick scan of the environment captures the weariness on some faces. The Lenten message has tried to invigorate us. We had to answer some hard questions, “Can a woman forget her nursing-child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15). Easter reminds us that God is with us in our context.
The two Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortations, emanating from the Synods for Africa, Ecclesia in Africa and Africae Munus, urged us all to address the daunting tasks of examining our roles in reconciliation processes, good governance, common good and democratic transitions in Africa. Easter invites us to accomplish these tasks with love and joy.
Recently, a Catholic author, Ron Rolheiser, OMI, in his column quoted from Karl Rahner SJ. The religious wrote:
As Jesus was being executed he prayed: ‘Forgive them, they do not know what they are doing.’ Karl Rahner commenting on this, astutely points out that, in fact, his executioners did know what they were doing! They knew that they were crucifying an innocent man. So why does Jesus say they were acting in ignorance? Their ignorance, as Karl Rahner points out, lay at a deeper level: They were ignorant of how much they were loved, whereas Jesus was not (ignorant of this fact). When the Gospels describe Jesus’ inner state at the Last Supper, they say: “Jesus, knowing that he had come from God and that he was going back to God and that, therefore, all things were possible for Him, got up from the table and took off his outer robe…
Jesus was capable of continuing to love and to forgive in the face of hatred and murder because, at the very heart of his self-awareness, lay an awareness of who(m) He was and how much He was loved. From that source He drew his energy and His power to forgive.
We have opportunity to reach for the deeper level this Easter. God loves us. Jesus is our energy and our power to persevere, to forgive and to teach others to love and forgive. Otherwise, you will not be able to be a credible source of peace as Pope Benedict described that “peace is not merely a gift to be received; it is a task to be undertaken.” For us, as Christians, agape is a love as manifested by God’s covenant with us in the Eucharist. In and through, and with this type of love, we can address all our social ills.
Right now we are experiencing the “Roman Spring”. This is in reference to the renewal of the universal church. Pope Francis is teaching us about joy and purposefulness in our various life situations and contexts. The Bishops of Africa, at their continental meeting in Kinshasa in 2013 wrote:
The joy of life, the sense and practice of communal celebrations prevail among Africans, despite the many problems and difficulties of the Continent.
As sons and daughters of the Church, Christians of Africa believe that Christ is establishing a new universe; they learn to visualize the seeds of this new world, even in difficult conditions and situations of today. They participate in the Mission of the Church and recognize that she contributes to the building of the ‘new Africa’ through the proclamation of the Good News, acts of charity and justice as well as actions promoting reconciliation and peace on the continent…
This Easter, as we search for our soul and do our soul searching we remain a people of the covenant, of agapaic love. We are not alone. Jesus dies and rises to keep alive our faith, hope, charity, love and joy.
Members of the unidentified Apostolic sect waiting to be baptised with dirty water (photo: S Mlambo).
A 44-year old self-proclaimed Johane Masowe echishanu prophetess, Susan Kandros, last week drowned in Nyaguwe River in Murewa while conducting a cleansing ceremony by the river.
Mashonaland East Province Acting Police Spokesperson Assistant Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the incident in which Susan Kandros dived into the river while in trance during a religious cleansing ceremony and died.
“I confirm the death of Kandros a prophetess who drowned at Nyaguwe River during a cleansing process,” said Mwanza.
According to police, on the fateful day Kandros, who is a self-proclaimed prophetess, held a prayer and cleansing ceremony with eight other fellow church members at Nyaguwe River Bridge in Juru.
After the ceremony it is said that the now deceased fell into a trance and divide into the river and swam downstream to a deep end.
Upon sensing danger it is reported that one of the church members Joseph Pepa (39) dived into the deep water in a bid to rescue Kandros. Unfortunately she drowned before being rescued and her body could not be located.
Instead of reporting the matter to police, it is said the church members held a night vigil expecting her to emerge from the waters but it was a futile exercise.
A report was made at Juru police, the following day and the Sub-Aqua unit came and retrieved the body before taking it Murehwa Hospital for postmortem.
“We appeal to the members of the public to desist from diving and swim in deep waters to avoid such kind of tragic losses,” said Mwanza.
“Zimbabwe needs hands that will work and brains to propel it forward.Nations must work for, as long as earth remains, seedtime and harvest shall not cease-that is God’s principle.”
The widely celebrated Easter holiday has come and gone and Zimbabwe continues to groan under the pangs of a decade-and-half industrial haemorrhage that has seen the economy teetering on the brink. The economy continues to choke under the weight of a crippling liquidity crunch among other financial hurdles.
However, for the umpteenth time we heard the old tired rhetoric of economic boom and restoration from prosperity movements across the country. Zimbabwe has (according to independent economists) a staggering unemployment rate of 85%. Naturally, this has seen thousands of graduates bending themselves into selling mobile phones, airtime and undertaking demeaning ventures in order to eke out a living.
The economic penury has created a fertile ground for the manipulation of vulnerable minds of the desperate. Employment has remained elusive and it is heartrending to see degree-holders standing behind vegetable stalls. Education was never meant to be an end in itself but sadly this is the situation gripping the land between Zambezi and Limpopo. Of the 13 000 000 people, only 900,000 are formally employed.
Zimbabwean exports which should breathe life into an economy are far outweighed by the things we import. No country ever thrived when it has to import more than it exports. Our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) remains very low as compared to other GDPs in the region. Our beleaguered government continues to decry depressed revenue collection for the underpayment of the civil service.
Fuel shortages continue to ground the courts and our roads, which should critically enable the economy, are in an indescribably appalling state; popular comedian Kapfupi had to act in one scene fishing from a pothole reflecting on this sad reality. Marriages continue to crumble as husbands’ troop to foreign lands in search of better fortunes. Downsizing, retrenching and unpaid leave have become common in most organizations as they battle for survival.
Now, it is a psychologically established fact that when the human mind is plagued by a tortuous and unrelenting catastrophe for a long time it can readily lose its rational powers of thought. Most people who live in the rubble have been branded as ‘mad’ yet they may simply be the hapless victims of loneliness, distress, and poverty. Distress can adversely affect the mind. Now, could it be that lack and social trauma over the years has affected our powers of thought that we readily believe anything that promises to end our woes?
This is exactly the question or rather puzzle that began playing a fandango in my mind after listening to Easter religious messages and juxtaposing with the real situation on the ground. It seems we have become a people plagued by economic stagnation and social distress to the end that we have lost the power of objective foresight. We easily yield to anything that promises hope. How can people so readily embrace claims that the over-a-decade long economic meltdown would end overnight because God has “judged” against it? How can multitudes believe that the over-80% unemployment rate can simply be “judged” and vanish overnight?
How can we honestly be made to believe, every year, that we will experience miraculous boom when reality continues to stare us in the face? Zimbabwe needs hands that will work and brains that will propel it forward – that is God’s principle. Nations must work, as long as earth remains, seedtime and harvest shall not cease. Wealth without work has never been God’s principle. It would appear that we have lost our objectivity as a people. In any case, did God ever say the ills of the present world will end in the hear-and-now? Did God Almighty ever hint that judgment of whatever form starts on this earth?
In contrast, Zimbabweans continue to receive promises of wealth, prosperity and economic boom each year but the reality on the ground tells a sobering story. Minister of Finance Patrick Chinamasa couldn’t have said it better when he denounced quick-fix approaches for a shift in economic fortunes. “Things cannot happen until you put brick after brick…” he said. Zimbabwe needs hands that will work and practical ideas to surge forward.
My dear friends, the sooner we wake up to this reality the better for us as a people. These feel-good promises while we sit clad in suits and outfits will not fix the economy. Indeed we need to come back to the physical world and get real about our national and foreign policies. We need to act on graft. Attract investment and improve fiscal policies. We need reengagement with the international donor community and revival of industry. “As long as earth remains, seedtime and harvest… shall not cease” (Gen 8:22).
Prophecies will not fix the economy dear friends. God intends that people should work. (Gen 3:19).
St Augustine once wrote, “The art of music, if sung well, is as good as praying twice”. This statement is finding space in the local Catholic Church in Zimbabwe with singing becoming the most prioritized activity at the present moment.
Since 2009 the local Church held at least two singing courses per year a move which, some people within the church are no longer comfortable with arguing that the songs composed so far are too many to the extent that mere church goers who are not into singing cannot go along with others during Mass.
The church also hosts St Cecilia national singing competitions once a year and several other diocese based competitions.
However, many have questioned the spirituality of these activities.
With sacred music meant to worship and praising the Lord, some now argue that some leave the competition venue very upset saying they have been unfairly adjudicated accusing the adjudicators of bias towards their favorites. Some also argue that some people are now composing songs for competition than for worshiping. These, however are mere allegations, yet to those who are given to this “ministry”, it is a mission and a vocation.
Asked for a comment on the matter, one of the young composers under the Diocese of Mutare, Ronald Kapfidze who has also a hit song on this year’s course entitled, “Kristo Mupiro weChitendero chitsva” said he has no any problem with composition of new songs because it’s a way of spreading the Gospel since most of the songs are from the Bible.
“Singing is also an evangelizing tool and by composing new songs we are fostering evangelization through songs. A bible verse can be read this year and repeated next year but that does not invalidate the message it is containing, therefore I don’t see the reason to stop composition of new songs time and again”, said the young composer.
The Mutare Diocese Composers Association has released 18 songs this time with some going wild with Paul Mukanyi’s latest piece, “Rwiyo Rwemuchato” with recording scheduled for Thursday the 24thof April 2014
Convicted RMG Independent End Time Message leader Robert Martin Gumbura’s trial commenced on Tuesday with him telling the court that the woman accusing him of rape stayed at his house as his concubine. Gumbura is jointly charged with his secretary Tendai Ganyani who allegedly assisted him rape a minor he had adopted.
Represented by Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba, Gumbura, in his defence, said he was being falsely incriminated for political and moral reasons.
“Gumbura attracted the attention of various politicians and civic organisations. Furthermore, the complainant did not press charges against Gumbura on her free will but was pushed by her former boyfriend who is also a former RMG Independent End Time Message congregant now attending rival Godwin Chitsinde’s church.
“Gumbura was in love with the woman and she was living at his house at No. 6 Helena Close in Marlborough, Harare, as his concubine,” he said.
Gumbura also told the court that he had sexual intercourse with the woman with her consent.
“The love relationship was terminated when the woman eloped to her boyfriend and Gumbura realised that she was seeing the man while living-in with him exposing him and his wives to HIV and sexually transmitted infections,” he said.
Prosecutor Ms Kudzai Chigwedere made an application to have the complainant testify in camera citing that she was vulnerable.
“The complainant is vulnerable in the sense that she is now married and is a former member of the church which makes her uncomfortable to narrate her ordeal in an open court,” she said.
Advocate Magwaliba opposed the application, saying: “Section 319(b) says if the presence of accused intimidates the witness certain measures can be done, it does not say that a person who wants to protect her/his reputation must be protected.
“The trials of the accused had been in the public domain and the complainant made the complaints of a rape that allegedly took place while she was not yet married.
“This case has nothing to do with her marital status, other witnesses in other cases who were also married gave their evidence in an open court,” he said.
Harare magistrate Mrs Fadzai Mtombeni granted the State’s application ruling that the complainant deserves a fair trial saying she is now a married woman and should testify in camera.
The State alleged that Gumbura took advantage of the underprivileged girl and raped her with Ganyani’s help.
The girl was one of the vulnerable members of the church who was adopted by Gumbura after an agreement between him and her father.
It is alleged that Gumbura after the adoption was responsible for her school fees and up-keep.
Ganyani allegedly ordered the girl to go into Gumbura’s office after which she locked the door from outside.
After raping the girl, it is alleged, Gumbura phoned Ga- nyani to unlock the door.
Tafadzwa Mukaro and her husband Wisdom have burst onto Zimbabwe’s gospel scene with a six-track debut album titled Mwari Anesu.
Tafadzwa does the lead vocals on the album produced by Lyton Ngolomi with her equally-talented husband providing backing vocals.
The just-released album contains well-thought-out tracks that include Iniwo Here, Mhinduro, Nhasi Uno, Ishe Gadzirai, Rwendo and Tendeuka.
Like most upcoming female gospel musicians in Zimbabwe, Tafadzwa, who wrote all the songs on the debut album, credits gospel stars Olivia Charamba and Shingisai Suluma for inspiring her.
“I started composing songs when I was at Africa University between 2003 and 2007,” said the 30-year-old singer.
“I am convinced that the album will go a long way in uplifting people spiritually.”
Tafadzwa and Wisdom, who are both employed by a local financial institution, are hopeful that they will match the extraordinary success achieved by their idols Olivier and Charles Charamba.
Interestingly, both the Charambas and the Mukaros belong to the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe.
With the help of producer Ngolomi and his wife Bethen, Tafadzwa is convinced that her partnership with her husband will register success on Zimbabwe’s competitive gospel scene.
“I want to thank my producer and his wife Bethen for making my dream come true. They are a delightful and helpful couple who also provided backing vocals on this project,” she said.
Now that the maiden album is out, the fledgling gospel music couple has promised to announce their entry into gospel music via a series of gospel concerts.
The Mukaros hope to make a mark in the gospel music genre dominated by other couples such as the Charambas, Ephraim and Respina Patai and Charles and Namatayi Chipanga who are popularly known as Chalenam.
Members of Vapostori worshiping at a shrine in Kambuzuma recently. (photo: M.Chibaya).
Members of an apostolic church in Masunda Village under Chief Madamombe in Chivi North in Masvingo Province got an Easter surprise on Saturday last week when an enormous crocodile was spotted at their church during a prayer service.
The surprise visit by the ‘saint’ crocodile, which reportedly measured about two metres long, triggered great panic among congregants of Zvishamiso Zvavapostori Apostolic Church with some of them suspecting the spotted reptile was on a witchcraft expedition.
The strange scene which brought prayer proceedings to a halt came barely a few weeks after a family in Zvishavane’s Makwasha suburb woke up to find on their verandah a crocodile about a metre and a half long decked with white, blue and red beads and some paraphernalia associated with witchcraft which comprised of snuff and herbs.
Artwell Mupumbu who reportedly witnessed the rare spectacle said church members were gob-smacked when the dreaded creature was spotted during a church service.
“We were surprised when a crocodile came to our church and subsequently stopped prayer proceedings after it lurked at the healing shrine. We just couldn’t believe it. We were first alerted of its presence by the petrified screams of children who were playing a few metres away from the gathering. Although we were shocked and still trying to come to terms with what was happening since we have never witnessed such, as Christians we are not affected and moved because we pray and believe in a living God,” said a terrified Mupundu.
He said the unwanted ‘congregant’ later made good its escape from the astounded parishoners after they pelted it with stones and logs.
“It was the freakiest thing to find a crocodile in broad daylight coming to a group of people unmindful of the noise we were making during the prayer session. What is really disconcerting about the whole episode is that it’s rare to find or meet a crocodile away from a water source such as a river or dam and as Christians we were surprised when it was spotted at our church which is not close to any water bodies,” said another witness, Alice Munenje.
Veteran gospel musician Machanic Manyeruke has challenged upcoming gospel singers to be creative through composing value-laden songs with the capacity to transform people’s lives and stand the test of time.
Speaking to NewsDay ahead of a gospel concert dubbed Eternity Gospel Explosion Chinhoyi slated for Chinhoyi Stadium today, the Madhimoni hit-maker expressed concern over “shallow” gospel music which he said had a short shelf life.
“We need long-lasting messages in songs which even future generations would be able to listen and enjoy the music,” Manyeruke said.
“Gospel music must transform people’s lives at the same time be family music with clean lyrics.”
A number of upcoming hip hop and rap artistes singing gospel have been using slang in the music which observers feel is a difilement of the gospel genre.
Manyeruke said the depth of his compositions had given him staying power in the music circles where his music still commands a huge following over the four decades he has been in the industry.
Manyeruke said gospel musicians must be patient if they were to rip the rewards of their music and must persevere as the industry demanded one to be strong.
He bemoaned piracy which he said threatened livelihoods of musicians who end up having to rely on live shows for survival.
“Piracy has killed the entire showbiz scene as musicians are now making money from live shows than selling of the CDs which might force some upcoming musicians to rush and produce half-baked projects,” he said.
Manyeruke will be the main act at the concert that will also feature Mathias Mhere, Thembalami, Vabati VaJehova, and CCAP Voice of Mbare, among others.
With more than 20 albums to his name, Manyeruke will be out to prove his prowess on the stage.
Popular apostolic choral group Vabati VaJehova is also no push-overs when it comes to live performances. The formidable group is credited for pioneering and revolutionising apostolic acapella music.
The group, which made history after their maiden appearance at the ongoing Harare International Festival of Arts in 2010, has a record of mesmerising audiences leaving lasting impressions at most of their shows.
Show promoter William Mikaye of Rayclash Trading urged gospel music fans to come in numbers and experience the power of God through music in a concert which is expected to be a thriller.
The Inter-regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA), comprising Catholic leaders from Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Sao Tome e Principe, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, has called on the Sothern Africa Development Committee (SADC) to act decisively against the armed conflict and ailing economies that threaten human survival in the region.
In a letter signed by the Secretary General of IMBISA, Archbishop Robert Ndlovu, the bishops say “The people of Africa are on the move. Some are “moving ahead” and make progress. Some are on the move because they are fleeing hunger, poverty, war and armed conflict.
“We regard the misery of our people crossing the border into Malawi because of military operations in Northern Mozambique or Zimbabweans crossing the Limpopo into South Africa or entering Botswana as economic refugees as alarming.”
The Bishops regard the armed conflict and economic instability as “transnational problems for which there are no national solutions.”
All regional countries therefore must put their heads and minds together in search of solutions.
They also advised that people must always come first for serious governments, and as regards Mozambique, they “appeal to our governments to unite their voice to the Mozambican people demanding an end to all violence and use of arms, to strengthen all efforts of dialogue, thereby helping to create conditions for that dialogue and avoid any military involvement.”
Regarding Zimbabwe and her failing economy, the bishops advised the region and the government ”to put in place ‘a new economic model’ across all sectors of the economy, an economic model that is inclusive, that draws from the abundant pool of expertise that [the country] is blessed with…and that transcends political and other boundaries”
Failure to address the economic and armed conflicts in the region would leave it susceptible to more dangerous implosions of discontent. “Prevention is better than cure. Action time is now. African leaders must not wait until the situation gets out of hand when foreign powers will come and act as policemen, so humiliating for Africa.” They warned.
Scores of people gathered at Regina Mundi Convent in Highfield to celebrate together with the Little Children of the Blessed Lady (LCBL) Sisters who were celebrating Silver and Golden jubilees of some of their members.
The event, which was graced by Archbishop Ndlovu who led the Eucharist celebration, saw a total number of five religious nuns celebrating silver and three celebrating golden jubilee respectively;Srs.Getrude Mushawatu, Esthery Chinyani, Boavinda Conde, Clarietta Masocha, Florence Machiridza were in a jovial mood.
However, “the golden nuns” who included Sr Pius Katsukunya, Euphrasia Ruzururo and Joana Mawire could just express their joy through smiling and waving their hands to the crowd since their age would not allow vigorously dance like their young companions.
In his Homily, Fr Ngwenya referred to a jubilee as a year of the Lord when people are forgiven their sins, prisoners being freed and scratching off all debts people may have to others as it is written in the book of Leviticus.
Fr Ngwenya then went on to urge the celebrants to start also a new life and follow what the ancient jubilee states by forgiving everyone who wronged them and even to free other people they are imprisoning morally and mentally.
Fr Ngwenya applauded the golden jubilarians for their faith in the Lord who gave them the strength to work in his vineyard for such a long period of time without drawing back.
He also urged the whole congregation gathered to use the sacraments of the Eucharist and reconciliation as pillars of strength “that keep us close to the Lord.”
Fr Ngwenya made this call referring to those who were celebrating the golden jubilee that without these two sacraments the journey would not have been smooth.
The crowd was put in frenzy mood when one of the golden jubilarians asked the Lord to add more fifty years to her in the service of the church and people looking at her age, they couldn’t help but to laugh in excitement due to the faith and desire to continue working shown by a fellow.
The jubilarians were presented with silver and golden crowns respectively. The secretary to the Nuncio, Msgr John Baptist Itaruma presented them with congratulatory certificates from the Pope.
Archbishop Ndlovu gave thanks to the Sisters for being exemplary and to show others that with God all is possible.
He also urged all the young people to learn lessons from the eight and not to be afraid to join various orders.
The Archbishop went on to shoulder a challenge to many parents gathered that they might also receive thanksgiving from their children like what the jubilarians did to theirs only if they bring up their children in the manner acceptable to God.
