A new diva has invaded the music industry with a gem of an album.

Born Faith Naphazi, the youthful musician trades under the name Faith Candy and has released a 10-track album Runako Rwako.

The album will be officially launched before the end of the month. She is touted as Zimbabwe’s version of Nicki Minaj because of her silky voice and flashy dress code. In an interview with the Zimbabwe Mail, Candy said she was delighted to release her debut album after investing time and creative energy in the project.

Her first attempt hit a snag six years ago, she said. “I am delighted to be releasing my debut album Runako Rwako which talks about how beautiful someone you love is and will  standby you no matter what the circumstances are, but when someone loves you for who you are then he/she loves you whole-heartedly,’ said Candy.

She added that her upcoming album will feature renowned local musicians like rapper Maskiri who spices up the album. She also worked with Pauline Gundidza, Baba Shupi and Carlos Green.

“This will be my first album but I have done singles before with Maskiri and Pauline on the track Ini Ndazomuwana.

“I have also worked with Baba Shupi and Carlos Green on the song Wandizadzisa. “I am currently polishing up the album which is due for launch at the beginning of July,” she said.

Candy said her musical journey dates back to when she was a mere teenager but she concentrated on singles. “I started singing when I was 15 and worked with the late Judah E and Nutty B before I quit when I got married at the age of 21. “ I realised I could not run away from my God-given talent which saw me bouncing back on the music scene last year and I am delighted to be releasing my first album. I have a passion for music,” said Candy. Meanwhile, Candy put up a splendid performance when she opened the show for Maskiri at City Sports Bar last Friday.

Religion is defined by the Concise English Dictionary as, “The belief in and worship of a supernatural controlling power, especially a personal god or gods.” Religion entails faithfulness to a given set of principles. Most people have real strong attachments to their religious beliefs and any attempt to take them away can only lead to arguments which are as futile as they are pointless. Strong emotions characterize religion. Religion has seen thousands of martyrs giving themselves to burn at the stake.

Religion is what saw early missionaries leaving the comfort of their countries to come to jungles and lion-infested lands on the strength of their convictions to spread the Word. It is religion which motivated the Second Chimurenga with the conviction the freedom fighters had that the great ancestor, Nehanda, had said, “Mapfupa angu achamuka” (My dead bones will rise) before the settlers had killed her. Religion, to the majority, is a matter of life and death. I know of medical doctors and engineers who gave up their well-paying jobs in heeding religious calls. It follows that religion is no laughing matter.

Now, it is the very nature of religion that it’s unique and each person has a right to choose how they want to worship. It is difficult to force anyone into believing anything they do not want to believe and it is not right to try and ram one’s religious beliefs down the throats of others. One ought to convert to a certain religion with willingness and conviction. The very structure of religion makes it difficult to control beliefs or anyone since they have a right even recognized in most constitutions. Section 60(1) (a)(b) of the new constitution notes that, “Every person has the right to freedom of conscience, which includes freedom of thought, opinion, religion or belief; and freedom to practice and propagate and give expression to their thought, opinion, religion or belief whether in public or in private and whether alone  or together with others.

In light of this clear provision it can only be illegal to interfere with anyone’s religious beliefs. History overflows with examples of violent clashes and tragedies that were precipitated by attempts to control people’s religious beliefs. Most democratic countries thus naturally guarantee people’s right to freedom of worship. Now, the ugly scenes of violence that rocked Budiriro last week are ample proof that people will not give up their religious beliefs easily, no matter how absurd. The savage attack on police officers will rank as one of the most shocking incidents the country has ever witnessed in religious circles. While regulating religious beliefs is not the most desirable thing to do, there comes a time when some practices simply become blatantly evil to be associated with God.

Zimbabweans will be quick to recall the spine-chilling abuses perpetrated by jailed religious leader Martin Gumbura on his female congregants. Surely, one does not need to be a spiritual being to recognize abuse. The sad thing, though, is that most victims of abuse do not view it as such. It pains to realize how the religious insanity now prevailing in our country opens valves of abuse against God’s name by the heathen. It makes religion appear like a force that blinds its followers when, in essence, it should open their eyes to the goodness of the Creator. It is very sad to see open abuse of women and children all in the name of religion.

One would wonder which God condones grown-up men inserting their fingers in young girls’ privates in the name of religious virginity testing. Which God advocates for denying children their basic right to education? Honestly, which God opposes citizens’ right to own an identity card document? Which godly religion watches people die because they don’t believe in ‘worldly’ clinics? My friends, there is no right which is not followed by responsibility. One cannot claim to be enjoying their right to religion when it steps on the toes of another’s right. Religion never renders anyone the right to abuse vulnerable members of society. That the Budiriro sect was engaged in deplorable practices should be condemned by all who believe in the sanctity of the name of a pure God.

The Budiriro apostolic sect members’ acts constitute stinking abuse which should be condemned in the strongest terms possible. Also, that they even had the effrontery to assault law enforcers deserves rebuke of the highest form. The need to limit the rights of religious sects has become a priority in this country. Zimbabwe appears to be having more cults than ever in its history. While it must be conceded that religious beliefs are better left unlimited, some things simply can’t be left to go on. The banning of particular practices is really commendable and true religionists should rally behind the protection of the good name of religion.

Chitungwiza magistrate Lazarus Murendo last Friday presided over a matter in which a woman allegedly helped her prophet husband to rape a 16-year-old girl who had visited them seeking spiritual cleansing.

The couple — Heriton Chikanga (33) and his wife Viola Chaka (20) — were not asked to plead to the rape charge and remanded in custody to June 27.

The State alleges that on May 18, the complainant visited Chikanga’s shrine in Highfield, Harare, seeking spiritial cleansing.

She was later advised that the process would be continued at Chikanga’s home in Unit K, Chitungwiza, and the juvenile allegedly complied.

When they got home, Chikanga allegedly declared that the complainant was his new wife, but the latter denied being in a relationship with him.

As if working in common purpose, Chaka allegedly grabbed the girl, forced her into their bedroom, undressed her and pinned her to the ground while her husband raped the girl.

After the alleged act, the couple and the complainant slept in the same room.

Chikanga allegedly woke up at night and raped the girl again.

In the morning, Chaka gave the complainant $1 for bus fare and ordered her to go back home.

The complainant allegedly spilled the beans to her aunt the following day, leading to the couple’s arrest on June 5.

Twenty-four members of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu who were granted bail by the High Court on Thursday are spending another weekend in remand prison after failing to raise the required US$2 400.

The sect members were ordered to pay US$100 each by High Court judge Justice Esther Muremba as part of their bail conditions.

The Vapositori launched an appeal at the High Court after Harare provincial magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe denied them bail saying they were of no fixed abode although the National Prosecuting Authority had conceded to bail.

Lawyer for the Vapositori, Obey Shava of Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni law firm yesterday said by the end of the day on Friday only US$1 300 had been raised from a well-wisher, an amount enough to bail out 13 members.

He said the accused would only be released once the full amount of money required had been paid.

“It is painful that people are given bail but still find themselves locked up days later.

“I hope that more well-wishers can come forward and bail them out,” Shava said.

Shava said when the 24 Vapositori applied for bail at the High court, he had suggested that they each pay US$10.

“I had suggested US$10 because I know they do not have the means to pay an amount higher than that,” he said.

The vapositori will be back in court tomorrow for routine remand.
They are facing charges of assaulting police officers and journalists at their shrine in Budiriro on May 30.

They are part of the 36 sect members arrested in connection with the matter.

In granting them bail, Justice Muremba noted that the suspects’ record did not demonstrate that they were a threat to public safety.

The sect members were arrested after they allegedly assaulted and injured nine police officers, journalists and officials from the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) who were part of a team invited to witness the banning of the sect over allegations of human rights abuses.

Violence broke out after ACCZ president Johannes Ndanga announced the banning of the church as well as ordering the arrest of one of the sect members who allegedly kept interjecting his speech.

This angered the other sect members who immediately pounced on the “intruders” and attacked them using their shepherd staffs.

See related reading:

Masowe members run riot, beat up anti-riot cops

Music is an art which when sung, people may cry, enjoy, dance depending with the type of the piece being sung. Music is a powerful tool in human life. It may be used to unite people, to spread the message, to express feelings and also to attract attention.

Sacred music in the Catholic Church has become a vital tool for prayer, worship, spreading the Gospel and has been used as a better substitute for meditation. But the question comes now, do we really know how to use the art of music for the upliftment of other people’s souls and spirituality or it is now causing divisions other than good among the faithful?

The Catholic Church in Zimbabwe started composition of native songs in the 1960s with the likes of veteran composers, Stephen Ponde, Fr Emmanuel Ribeiro and Calisto Chawasariraleading the wagon of the first black composers in the country. Back then, only the Archdiocese of Harare and Gweru Diocese had composers and two courses were arranged for each year that is in April and August and with a manageable number of songs that would have gone through thorough revision and correction before they are given to the Church, a situation which might be different today.

St Cecilia Day celebrations were brought to liven music competitions when it was introduced in 2005. Accordingly, this was to unite the local Church that people may come together and celebrate in union the important day of the Feast of St Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians and Catholic music. The event brings together Catholic choirs from all over the country to spend the whole day singing in praise of the Lord, with the aspect of competition in it. Do all people who participate in these celebrations know exactly the purpose of the event?

In these competitions, some people cry if they fail to lift the trophy, some lose hope to the extent of abstaining from going for choir competitions with the reason of alleged unfair adjudication in favor of prominent choirs or individuals in certain choirs.
“St Cecilia celebrations are very important because they unite people from all over Zimbabwe who speak different languages to come together to present their gifts to the Lord through music, but the major problem is that people know and understand the day and forget its purpose when they are  celebrating it. Competitions are there just to supplement the celebrations but they should not take people’s minds and focus away from singing in commemoration of the Day itself”, said SekuruJ. K Dzingai, one of the long standing composers of Zimbabwe Catholic Church music.

The majority of people have lost the meaning of the competitions. “It is vital to revise old songs because many of our young people become strangers when such pieces are sung and revision courses will have a great impact to our music as a Church”, he advised.

Responding to criticism to the introduction of solfa notation system in the local music Dzingai argued that many songs especially those which were composed some time ago have lost originality due to lack of written notes of each of them and notation of songs helps to keep originality.
“Notation of songs is very important because it keeps the song’s original composition even if the composer is dead and those who will come after us will be singing the correct version which is different with many songs that were composed long time ago that have lost their originality. Some say it’s not Catholic because they haven’t done that and if we put notes it simply becomes Catholic”, he added.

According to Vladimir Lenin, religion is the opium of the people. Religion solves those problems that men of science and logic fail to.

The concept of God or a supreme being varies in definition the world over in application and definition. In Africa the major religions are to be Christianity, Islam and African traditional religion.

It seems religion has been on this planet since time immemorial and yet it has never been possible at any point in recorded history to unite everyone under the banner of one .

It seems that newer and newer religions are cropping up each day and within these religions newer and newer denominations seem to be endlessly erupting with finer adjustments from their mother religions.

It seems universal to all religions that there is life after death. However, the paths and methods to achieve that afterlife has been a subject of great controversy and debate. Different prophets offer different ideologies and methodologies which has resulted in emotions brewing and erupting.

In general people choose religions according to the following criteria: Inherited parental beliefs and convictions from power demonstrations by the prophets .It remains to be established whether religion has done absolute good and justice to the development of Africa in this modern day and age. Before an attempt is made a brief history of each of the common religions is essential.

The African traditional religion has been on the continent since the earliest recorded pieces of oral history. The religion has a supreme being referred to by different titles depending with the tribe.

There is a firm belief that once one dies their spirit hovers around their original family and acts a connecting link between the supreme being and the people left on earth. Certain individuals called spirit mediums have special powers to receive messages from the spirit world and they convey these messages to the general ordinary people.

This religion seems to be dying a slow death.

Christianity was introduced by the European missionaries upon their arrival and is traceable via Rome to Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Christianity to a great extent if not completely, discredited the original African traditional religion on the basis that it was a dirty religion.

Various extreme and inhumane aspects of the religion such as killing of twins and albinos were castigated by Christianity.

Christianity portrays Jesus as a human equivalent to God whose life on earth was a sacrifice that God did to himself so that the sins of heathens such as the Africans would be forgiven forever.

After living a sinless and virtuous life Jesus Christ was murdered at a young age by the Jews as God had planned and resurrected after three days to fulfil the prophecy. He then ascended to heaven in human form to prove his superiority to the people.

The teachings of Islam assert that Mohammed was prophet of the lineage of the illegitimate son of Abraham born to Haggai named Ishmael. Their teachings tend to be more radicalistic and more militant compared to those of the Jews and Christians.

It seems the teachings of the torah of Judaism are a template from which the two religions above are built. Great personalities such as Joseph and Abraham and several others are common in the two religions. The major difference between the two religions mentioned above is that Islam does recognise Jesus, but not as a Christ but rather as a mere prophet, to who Mohammed was superior.

In Africa it seems, the Arabic speaking countries to the north tend to be largely Islam. The eastern and western countries like Nigeria and Central African Republic (CAR) tend to be hybrid of the two religions mentioned above.

The countries to the south have a mixture of African traditional religion and largely Christianity. The influence of Islam is still minimal. These include Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa.

It is not the actual teachings of each religion that would worry the observer but rather the violent clashes and wars which erupt amongst the religions. Anyone would believe in their normal senses that these religions should be meeting clubs of spiritually pure people with superior morality, with greater tolerance and understanding than non believers.

The situations in Nigeria, Somalia and CAR and their histories would ridicule such a belief. Daily, suicide bombers massacre numbers of innocent lives at bus termini, shopping malls and stadia. Hit Islamic terrorist clubs such as al-Shaabab move around the country side slaughtering and maiming “enemies of Islam” regardless of age and gender in cold blood.

These are lives that constitute invaluable labour force and the future of the countries involved . Thousands of otherwise productive hours are being put to waste as men of God show each other who the boss is, in violent clashes. Can the following questions be answered then?

Could resources being wasted to mobilise and remunerate these gangs of terror be harnessed for alternative economic development?

Are the governments being too lenient on these insurgents?

What is the situation going to be if Islam was to sufficiently spread its tentacles further to the south and all other parts of Africa, as is underway?

Are the Moslems going to win the war and annihilate the Christians before Jesus comes?

In spite of Africans having won the war against western imperialism, should they brace for a new one against themselves?

With the current trends we need some twenty five years for outright chaos in Africa to break out.

As progressive Africans, what then should we do to avoid the forthcoming? Or rather, it is one insoluble case.

Fourteen of the 24 members of the Madzibaba Ishamea Mufani’s Johanne Masowe Church have finally walked out of remand prison after initially failing to raise $100 bail, while 10 of their co-accused were granted bail at the magistrates’ courts.

The 14 appeared before Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei for their routine remand hearing yesterday and their next hearing is on July 1.

Ndirowei also granted bail to 10 more Vapositori who were still in custody over the same public violence charges.

The 10, Milton Murinda, Dennis Banda, John Mutasa, Nathan Shamuyarira, Prayer Parira, Gilbert Madyira, Madzimure Madzimure, Darlington Mambayo, Charles Matanga and Alexio Manhanga were represented by Obey Shava and Tawanda Takaendesa.

They are jointly charged with 24 others who were granted bail over the same charges of public violence.

Ndirowei considered the recent High Court ruling on the same case before granting the accused persons $100 bail.
As part of bail conditions, the 10 were ordered to reside at their given addresses and report once a week at Harare Central Police Station.

Allegations against the accused persons arose on May 30 when an entourage led by Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) president Archbishop Johannes Ndanga, that included police officers and journalists, was beaten up by the sect members.

This was after Ndanga had read out a letter banning the church on allegations of abusing women and children.

The congregants challenged the ACCZ leader to read his speech in Shona, claiming they were not familiar with English.

During their bail application, Shava complained about the State’s reluctance to investigate assault allegations which Vapositori raised against the police during their initial court appearance.

He confirmed the release of the 14 and said their wives were making efforts to secure money for the release of the remaining 10.

Shava said the 10 might be released any time soon because there was a well-wisher who had promised to bail them out.
Justice Esther Muremba last week ordered the release of the 24 on $100 bail.

The 24 are Emmanuel Sigauke, 37, Laston Marandure, 23, John Murahwa, 36, Taurayi Supiya, 36, Shadreck Mashonganyika, 25, Robert Paradzayi, 35, Tafa Chakwara, 36, Kudzanai Tichaona Kusekwa, 31, Cabson Chandaona, 43, Alton Makando, 31, Ashton Chinhoyi, 31, Abisha Mutandwa, 30, Brian Machingura, 18, Nathan Muparadzi, 39, Takavengwa Gwenzi, 46, Tichafa Madyegure, 41, Munaro Singadi, 42, Ziwanayi Nyatikonde, 30, Johannes Makumbe, 39, Paul Mupikata, 32, Simango Mharadza, 45, Tachiva Munemo, 37, Regis Bute, 31, and Clephas Muwona.

See related reading:

Vapostori languish in jail

Masowe members run riot,beat up anti-riot cops

From Left gospel musician Mathias Mhere, Zimbabwe Union of Musicians patron Webster Shamu, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development Samuel Udenge and Kuwadzana East MP Nelson Chamisa.

Pint-sized gospel musician Mathias Mhere celebrated his 26th birthday and launched his DVD album “Nguva YeNyasha” in style on Friday night at the Rainbow Towers hotel.

The colourful event was graced by various company representatives, musicians, pastors and politicians.

Pastor Charles and Olivia Charamba, Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave and husband Courage, Jah Prayzah and Pah Chihera were some of the celebrities that graced the event.

Kuwadzana East Member of Parliament Nelson Chamisa, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority boss Karikoga Kaseke and Zimbabwe Union of Musicians patron Webster Shamu were also present. Different musicians took turns to celebrate with Mhere.

First on stage was the group CCAP Choir that sang three songs and was followed by upcoming gospel-dendera musician Saiwe Chimbetu. She thrilled fans with song “Ndinopupura” a fusion of dendera and gospel.

Other artistes that performed were Sebastian Magacha who thrilled fans with the songs “Bhosvo” and “Satan Imbavha”.

Upcoming gospel songbird Chipo Chipwanyira, Alfa Ngonidzashe, Flem B of “Kana Church Yanakidza” fame, flamboyant Mudiwa Hood and rising youth dance group Ses’fikile made a mark with good performances.

The birthday boy later on performed some of his songs on the latest album including “Sahwira”, “Ziya Rangu”, “Pamazuva Angu” and “Favour”.

Most fans screamed out of surprise as Jah Prayzah and his three dancers joined Mhere on stage on the song “Sahwira” and they put up well choreographed dances.

Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development Samuel Undenge who was the guest of honour said artistes play an important role in building the nation.

“Musicians play an important role in the economic development of our nation. We are there to support them and they should be able to get instruments in an easy way. Music shows a person’s culture and Mhere did an awesome work,” he said.

See related reading:

Mhere to shoot DVD in SA

Mhere relishes Nama nomination

Vapostori attacking Cops in Budiriro (photo: Newsday)

Vice President, Joice Mujuru has lambasted a Budiriro Apostolic sect that bashed police officers and journalists saying they were a disgrace to the Christian community.

Mujuru, patron of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ), said she was embarrassed to be associated with such people who did not respect government and took the law into their own hands.

“You chose me to become ACCZ patron but I can’t be working with you when you are so disrespectful,” she said at a function to launch an anti-rape campaign in Harare Thursday.

“You are unable to respect government and its institutions. I’m even disappointed that you also recently abused the police when all the good is expected of you,” Mujuru said.

Three weeks ago, members of an apostolic sect from Budiriro ran amok bashing police officers and journalists after ACCZ led by Johannes Ndanga announced a ban of the church on allegations that they were abusing women and children.

Mujuru said churches should correctly read and interpret the bible to avoid misleading people, especially women and children.

She said police officers government and have the authority to ban the church.

“Do you know what the government is?” Mujuru asked adding that “One policeman represents every citizen in this country and what it means is that they are very important to the country and government.”

Mujuru said this as the bulk of the Vapositori represented members arrested in connection with the case have been freed by the courts on bail.

Vapostori attacking ZBC camera person (photo: Newsday).

Turning to the abuse of women and girls, the vice president said women must enjoy their freedom and authorities must deal with rapists harshly.

Upcoming Mutare-based gospel musician James Gondo has released his debut video (DVD) on his latest offing Kurudziro in the scenic Eastern Highlands town.

The new album, which was released recently has seven tracks and is currently, riding high with songs such as Vaiti Veshoko and Jesu Wangu receiving huge chunks of airplay on the national broadcaster.

The talented 24-year-old Gongo of the Livingstone Testimony Band first introduced himself into the music industry with a moderate seven-track album titled Farirai Mwari, but as he was still learning the ropes he did not opt for video shooting.

With his nine-member band growing in leaps and bounds the soft spoken mucisian has decided otherwise to shoot two videos on the title track Kurudziro and Vimba Najesu.

In an interview with NewsDay recently, Gondo said although financial hardships had stopped him from shooting the entire album he was, however, happy that the album had been received very well by his fans.

“This is our second album and we believe we are growing with each passing year. Most of our songs are receiving fair airplay and it’s good for the development of the group,” he said. Gondo said he was hopeful that people would certainly enjoy the video which was shot in Vumba and Nyanga.

“Lack of adequate finances stopped us from shooting the entire album as it is quite costly,” added the Apostolic Faith Mission churchgoer.

Thousands members of Apostolic Sect at Mafararikwa Shrine in Marange. (photo:M.Chibaya).

There are so many false impressions about followers of the various apostolic sects in the country although Johanne Marange and Johanne Masowe sects are believed to command the biggest following.

According to a research by Francis Machingura titled A Diet of Wives as the Lifestyle of the Vapostori Sects: The Polygamy Debate in the Face of HIV and Aids in Zimbabwe, 75% of Zimbabweans profess to be Christian, 20% of which accounts for the apostolic sects.

“The percentage figure of the apostolic sects in the Zimbabwean spiritual market then translates to more than two-and-half million followers. In 1999, the Johanne Marange church alone was estimated to have around one million affiliates in Zimbabwe, with thousands more in countries further north; making it the second or third largest denomination in Zimbabwe,” Machingura says in his research.

“If the Johanne Marange sect has approximately more than one million followers, this will imply that the combined number of people who subscribe to the apostolic sects will be much higher.
What is interesting is that the exact figure of members belonging to these apostolic sects cannot be established with certainty as no official count has ever been done.”

These sects, however, have often been described as demonic or primitive, where members are desperate to getting a “quickfix” to either their social problems or illnesses. Some people actually view the members as illiterate because they survive on odd jobs like making baskets, welding and other handcraft skills.

But judging by the posh vehicles that park at their shrines, including one at the intersection of Seke and Cripps roads headed by one Madzibaba Wimbo, they certainly command a following that goes beyond poor and uneducated.

Members of Vapostori worshiping at a shrine in Kambuzuma recently. (photo: M.Chibaya).

Although most sect members refused to speak to NewsDay, one female executive at a leading medical aid society gave an interesting insight.

“Many people scorn Johanne Masowe weChishanu, for example, as it is regarded as a following for hopelessly destitute people,” she said. “Some actually think that we are a disordered lot and yet in reality the opposite is the truth.”

She said she was proud to be part of this following by choice, not because she was destitute as she held a university degree and led a normal life. She said there were many such women in apostolic sects, some of whom drove top-of-the-range vehicles like BMWs, Mercedes Benzs and Ford Rangers.

“Our particular sect of the Johanne Masowe weChishanu allows its members to seek medical attention and only need to seek spiritual guidance and protection from the Holy Spirit before going to the hospital,” she said.

The women were also very fashion-conscious as they often sported expensive white linen, organza and silk material.

“We, however, wear very short, but neat hair and the only jewellery that we put on is the wedding band that symbolises one man for one woman,” the woman said.

A member of another sect in Warren Park said most of what was written about the sects were just myths and misconceptions about their faith and practices.

The man, a university graduate with two Masters’ degrees, said: “They call our gatherings sects because they are not organised like mainstream churches.”

His wife, who was dressed in her white attire and head dress, is a retired accountant and currently has been working together with her husband as marriage counsellors.

He said around the 1940s, the church founder, Johanne Masowe, urged his followers not to go to school, specifically to avoid being drafted into the army to fight the Second World War.

“He said if children went to school they would be rounded up and fight in World War II just like what happened around the late 70s when high school leavers in the then Rhodesia were required to go for the call-up for war against the liberation fighters. It was just a situational interpretation in the 1940s, but we now have a stance against some of these congregational groups that have stopped children from going to school,” he said.

Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe president Johannes Ndanga said there were five sub-sects of the original Johanne Masowe weChishanu sect with over 1 000 congregations.

In his research, Machingura noted that Marange and Johanne Masowe sects do not own properties like church buildings arguing that God had not approved of church buildings such that they assemble in open spaces or under huge trees.

Another researcher, Isabel Mukonyora, also noted that Johanne Masowe was inspired by Shoniwa Masedza Mtunyane. He was a prophet who wandered throughout Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) in the 1930s, causing alarm among the colonial authorities.

“In 1932 Johanne Masowe first drew the attention of the police in Mashonaland towns, mines, and commercial farms. By making borders of landscapes sites for prayer, he pointed to the displacement of Shona people . . . Johanne was arrested at least five times during the 1930s for walking around preaching repentance for sins of adultery and witchcraft and offering baptism for those who repented,” the research read in part.

“He repeatedly disturbed the peace by turning up on unoccupied land, which whites wanted to remain empty to create borders between the different pockets of the city landscape. This sacred wilderness, located on the fringes of worksites, residential neighbourhoods and highways, is the source of the Masowe Apostles’ name. John the Baptist, the voice that cries in the wilderness near the River Jordan, is the biblical image from which the Shona name Johanne Masowe and this pattern of ritual behaviour were derived. Johanne Masowe breached colonial norms by calling people out to pray in places that Rhodesian administrators wished to keep empty and then vanishing, only to surface in another place whose fringes could serve as sites for prayer.”

Members of the Vapostori worshiping at a shrine in Harare ( photo: M. Chibaya)

Vapostori is a belief system that those who profess it claim resembles the Acts of Apostles in the Bible.

Johanne Masowe started this in 1930s and initially settled in South Africa, but was deported in 1961 and settled in Chitungwiza where there is a high concentration of followers.

“In 1964 after Zambia had gained independence, he crossed into that country and spread his tentacles to Tanzania . . . but now the church has so many splits and they have gone to other parts of Africa except North, West Africa and Malawi where there is clear-cut resistance to Christianity because of Islamic influence,” said the Warren Park-based faithful.

Johanne Masowe died in 1973 on the Copperbelt in Zambia and today there is a section called Mandebvu Compound in Lusaka, Zambia, where most of these VaPostori are concentrated.

The follower noted that the Vapostori sect in terms of structure is congregational with one founding leader or president, where each and every congregation may operate differently because there are no laid-down rules or regulations that govern operations like what happens at mainline churches.

This perhaps explains the unorthodox practices that are being conducted at some of these sects where, for example, male members have been accused of conducting virginity tests.

“The Vapostori are concentrated in areas like, for example, Hurungwe and Mutoko in Mashonaland Central and the border areas.

“The people that initially brought the Vapostori to the city were blacks that had come to work as gardeners, domestic workers and other menial jobs and hence it was a sect that was despised. And so it took many decades for those that were in the mainline churches to appreciate this religious practice, but today we have members from virtually every social strata,” said the Warren Park sect member.

Members of the apostolic sects this week thronged the National Heroes’ Acre for the burial of Stan Mudenge, a Zimbabwean politician who was Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education. (Photo by Moses Chibaya)

“People need to research and find out exactly how we operate and not to tar us all with one brush. You will be surprised, if not shocked, to find that there many politicians and academics that are members of Johanne Masowe weChishanu,” he said.

In an address to prelates of the Catholic Bishops Conference in Rome, Pope Francis heaped praise on their work.

He said, “The church in your country has stood fast with her people both before and after independence and now in the years of overwhelming suffering as millions have left the country in frustration and desperation, as lives have been lost, so many tears shed.”

The Pope went on to praise the prelates for the exercise of their prophetic ministry, in which they have given voice to all the struggling people of their country, especially to the downtrodden and refugees. He also said he was aware that many Zimbabweans have reached their human limit, and do not know where to turn.

It is true that the Roman Catholic Church in Zimbabwe has stood true to its prophetic mandate from the days of oppressive white rule to these days of equally oppressive black rule. However, there is still more to be done because the human situation in Zimbabwe is getting more and more desperate.

We know what happens when human beings are pushed to the limit. They turn to violence in order to save themselves and their children. The result is the chaos and destruction that is taking place in some parts of Africa, the Middle East and other countries around the world.

Unfortunately, what the Pope said about the Catholic Church cannot be said about the Protestant churches.

Bishop Chad Gandiya of the Anglican Church responded to the Pope’s comments through his spokesperson, Precious Shumba. Speaking about the protestant side of Christianity, he said, “The church has fallen far short of giving spiritual guidance to the national leadership in terms of raising critical value issues. They have left the politicians to abuse the citizens and left the citizens at the mercy of an elite, which is consuming all the resources.”

He added, “In terms of dealing with the national conflict, the church has not come out strongly against oppressive leadership and dictatorial tendencies by those wielding state power and authority and this means citizens are feeling vulnerable.

“The church has become so corrupted that it no longer speaks the language of the suffering masses, but speaks the language of the elites they are aligned to.”
A network of Christian groups meant to promote peace and governance in the country, the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA) denounced the government over its abuse of human rights during the 2008 elections.

ZCA also organised the non-partisan, Save Zimbabwe Campaign which included opposition political parties, churches and civil society organisations.

Zanu PF was invited but refused to join the campaign. It was at such a campaign prayer meeting that police attacked participants including MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai and Lovemore Madhuku of the then National Constitutional Assembly (NCA). This led Sadc to initiate the reconciliation process, facilitated by South Africa, which led to the government of national unity.

Asked about the present role of the church in the country Jonah Gokova a founder member of ZCA said, “The church in Zimbabwe is fragmented and there is no unified approach, by the churches to the continuing crisis.

“There is a spiritual, moral and theological vacuum in the church which calls for real revival which only God can bring about. From the time leading up to the elections some of the churches, especially those founded by Africans, openly aligned themselves to the ruling party.

“Some individual leaders in the mainline churches, founded by missionaries, have also aligned themselves to those in power. This has silenced the prophetic voice denouncing injustice and the abuse of human rights.”

Talking about African founded churches, many, if not most, of them are not churches at all but money-making outfits. Because of the economic meltdown in the country the majority of our young people are jobless and penniless.

Many of them have become cunning con-men. They ordained themselves pastors, bishops and prophets, even though they don’t have any theological training or church background.

Roy Musasiwa, is the Principal of Domboshawa Theological College and National Treasurer of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe. He sees a number of ways in which the church is responding to the crisis. First, there are Christians who believe that it is not their role to be involved in matters of economics and politics.

He equates them to salt which remains in the salt shaker with no influence on what happens in the wider society.

Secondly, he says, are those who choose to be involved on the side of the ruling party or the opposition. They are salt which has lost its saltiness. Musasiwa also said the third group takes the stance of prophetic denunciation of the evils that they perceive in society. They take their cue from prophets like Amos who denounced injustice and fought for the downtrodden.

The problem that I personally find with their stance is that they continue to curse the darkness rather than lighting the light. Because they speak without love, they are often not listened to and they become the proverbial voice in the wilderness.

Musasiwa continued by stating that the church should not be roundly condemned and accused of doing nothing because there is much that is going on behind the scenes that people don’t know about.

I do agree with the concept of constructive engagement. It, however, does not mean “speaking the truth in a non-partisan way.” This is a misunderstanding of our situation. Christians cannot be non-partisan because what we are facing is not a socio-political crisis, where two sides are fighting for power, but a humanitarian crisis where people’s lives are threatened.

It is not a matter of aligning with this or that political party but a battle between good and evil. Christians, in obedience to the Gospel, have to be aligned with the poor and downtrodden.

To them “constructive engagement means personally talking to those in power about the suffering they are causing and the need for them to reform.

Zimbabwe is in a serious spiritual, social, political and economic crisis. The Christian faith has all that is needed to get us out of it because it promotes the highest values of love, honesty, morality, truth, dignity, self-respect and respect for others.

It is imperative therefore, that all genuine church leaders take the issue of the church’s role in our polarised situation as a matter for serious discussion leading to appropriate action. He, who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Notwithstanding that Zimbabweans are of diverse religions and faith, our Constitution says we are a Christian nation.

The charter also provides for the right to freedom of worship. That we are a Christian nation makes the goings-on in churches matters of national interest.

Recently a group of men from an apostolic faith church made the news for all the wrong reasons after they beat up police officers who were escorts for an elder who wanted to ban their church for abuse of women and children.

While they have been granted bail on the case of assault, women’s groups and child rights activists are waiting for formal reports and investigations into the allegations of abuse, especially that fathers insert their dirty fingers into their daughters’ vaginas every week to test for virginity and give away daughters as compensation to men who married non-virgins. Virginity-testing is largely referred to as sexual assault, but I believe it must be upgraded to be treated as a form of rape.

Some sections of society also want to know if Johannes Ndanga [president of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe] had the mandate to ban the church and if he used the right channels to carry out the mandate. His actions could have been interpreted as provocation and an infringement on the right of the vapostori’s freedom of worship. If any crimes were committed, then it is the role of the police to investigate and get the perpetrators to be prosecuted.

These “lower-end churches” which tend to be a mix between traditional religion and Christianity thrive on intimidation and twisting of scriptures to keep women and children in check. They say women have no business preaching the word.

They believe women are born to serve men, born for the sexual gratification of the male species and to give them big families. In other sects, a man will marry a big number of women so they can compete for his attention.

Women have to be preached to and not raise any objections. While some give scriptures to support their suppression of women, some sects do not even read the Bible though they purport to be Christian and followers of Christ. It is only fair that the goings-on in these churches be monitored with a view to protect women and children.

However, most of the time people are quick to roundly condemn these “under-the-tree” churches, yet there is a new breed of apostles, prophets and prophetesses who are also taking advantage of congregants in a big way.

Latter day apostles are not driven by the passion to win souls for the Lord when they breakaway from mainstream churches or start new ministries altogether.

The new churches by apostles are formed not to serve the Lord, but are ventures to sustain families. They preach to the daily needs of people and conveniently forget the spiritual dimension.

They preach about the here-and-now and the potential that we all have to live like kings, but the unfortunate thing is they are starving the inner being.

They rarely talk about sin, for fear of offending the generous giver because they have an insatiable hunger for hi tech gadgetry and want to drive the latest models courtesy of the faithful.

The competition for congregants is not to save souls, but boost coffers. The miracles, fake or genuine are meant to keep the faithful captivated and to raise the profile of the prophet and his church. Yet miracles are supposed to be a manifestation of God’s power among us.

So-called men-of-god must bring people to God, not to man.

When the real apostles in Acts of the Apostles went out to preach, they had a situation when complaints were raised about the distribution of food among the widows, orphans and the infirm. [Acts 6 v 1-5] The apostles would now lower themselves to serve at the tables, they did not want to lose focus of the job at hand. They found a way around the problem, contrary to that today’s apostles are abusing their positions to undermine the body of Christ.

They are actually worshipping at the tables! They want to preach to the rich, to encourage them to make more money and bring a huge chunk to the church. Some even make their congregation feel bad for not supporting their lavish lifestyles. People need not buy their pastors’ love.

Recently there was a story in the media that merchandise was being sold during church service in one of the pentecostal churches in town. They can argue that they want to fund the church’s various compassionate ministries, but to do it during church service would distract people from listening to the word.

Jesus himself whipped up traders [Matthew 21 v 12 - 17] because he was horrified they had turned his father’s house into a den of sin. Why not just start a church shop that sells the merchandise outside worship time?

It is unfortunate that the church seems to have lost its campus. It seems to me the church is operating at a very low level, worried about virginity and fat tummies at the expense of the spiritual needs of the people.

People need somewhere to turn to without being abused. The economy is bad, the job market depressed, Zim Asset is yet to take off and religion manipulative.

A refreshing change in the gospel industry comes in the form of young and energetic Pride Priestly Nengere, also known as Jesse Priestly, who proved his worth at the recent launch of his comeback album titled, Totally Free, which has 13 tracks.

Performances of songs from the album which will be released to the public on August 7, left people in astonishment as he worked wonders on the stage.

Having last been released an album a decade ago, the artist went on to prove that he is still a force to reckon with. Priestly, a worship leader at Bishop Tudor Bismark’s Jabula New Life Covenant Church Zimbabwe, is also the CEO of Platinum Level Records. He is a member of the multi-Grammy award-winning artiste and group Israel Houghton and New Breed of New Breed Africa.

“A lot of effort and work have been invested into this, approximately about US$40 000 to complete the new album which was produced in South Africa. Some songs have deliberately been sung in other languages including Shona, Yoruba, English and Chewa, in order for me to reach out to a wide range of audiences globally. The various languages will enable me to break language barriers and get the message out there.” Priestly said.

Totally Free has beautifully arranged music in songs such as Yeso Yowelonga, We Praise Your Name, Ake Hosanna, Touch Me Again, Tinopa Mbiri and Great and Mighty amongst others.

Priestly also explained that his latest effort was largely influenced by personal life experiences that he has gone through in the last 10 years, which consequently led him to take time to finally complete the album in order to avoid delivering a half-baked cake.

Listeners can be assured of a lasting impression from the album, thanks to its originality, good musical arrangement, beautiful backing vocals as well as the actual deep message it has.

The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) has resolved that there will be no more music courses for new compositions in 2014 as had been previously communicated.

This was confirmed in an interview with the ZCBC secretary General, Fr. Chiromba in an interview.

“The Bishops Conference has resolved that there be only one music course for new compositions per year. You find that over the past five years there have been many songs composed, taking for example, in one year people would go for a music course in April and there are twenty new songs.

“Before the end of that same year another course is held with a similar number of songs being released even before people have mastered those from the previous course and because of this, people have complained that how can we cope with this situation”, he said.

The General Secretary added that new compositions are making other people strangers in the Church. “Many people have complained that they are now strangers at Mass. The Catholic liturgy is all about participation and involvement and when only new songs are dominating the whole Mass, the whole idea is missed”, he added.

Fr Chiromba could not hide that other sections within the Church are arguing that the gift of composing sacred hymns is from God therefore composers should be given a free will to compose as long as they can.

He argues that contemporary compositions are different from the Chishawasha hymns that were known to everyone regardless of age and location and expressed that it will be of great importance to embark on revision courses so as to make known to all ages, old and new songs which will improve participation of everyone in the liturgy.

The bishops stated that only 15 songs will be produced per year from only one Diocese but revision courses can be held time and again.

A group of female criminals is on the loose, with churches and congregants being targeted for their valuables and cash, police have said.

National police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said over the weekend that a group of women travelling in a getaway car sneaked into a church in Harare, afterwards stealing bags containing money and other valuables while people were in prayer.

“People must be alert to who sits next to them in church while they are praying. If they see visitors, it would be ideal for them to have security keeping an eye on them,” Nyathi said.

“We are appealing to anyone who can help us nab this group as a matter of urgency because people should freely worship their Lord.”

Of late, more than 4 000 robbery cases involving women using taxis and kombis have been recorded by police countrywide.

In February, a woman and two men who robbed unsuspecting travellers they offered transport while wearing the Zimbabwe National Army regalia were jailed for eight years after being convicted of several counts of robbery.

The woman, Nyarai Mutumwa (23), and her two male accomplices committed a spate of robberies along the highway while masquerading as army officers. She was jailed for an effective two years and eight months in February this year.

Last year police arrested several armed robbers working with female accomplices in well coordinated syndicates where the gangs terrorised residents in and around Harare.

The tea-pot shaped land lying between the Zambezi and the Limpopo has witnessed watershed moments from its days as colonial Rhodesia to today as independent Zimbabwe. That white rule forbade blacks from walking the capital’s streets and denied blacks privileges in their motherland is a memory well-documented in history. That the settlers dished to themselves vast tracts of land belonging to the natives is still vivid in people’s minds.

Even more, that thousands of our brothers and sisters died for the liberation of this country is a memory never to be forgotten. The Chimoio and Nyadzonya mass graves lie as painful testimony of the innocent lives that never got to see a liberated Zimbabwe. Even so, a lot continued to happen in the post-independence era. Documentaries have been done on the Gukurahundi massacres. Chilling stories surround the massacres and issues of compensation of victims have remained topical to date. The unity accord of 1987 brought progressive stability to the country though some sections think otherwise.

Substantially, the last decade-and-half, has seen much hemming and hewing over the plummeting economic fortunes of the country with the government at large and the ruling party in particular, being in the firing line. The emergence of a formidable opposition party at the turn of the century aroused calls for change. The country’s involvement in the DRC war and the hefty war veterans’ pay-outs were largely blamed for triggering a runaway inflation. The country has also been hit by corporate financial scandals of astounding magnitude since 1980. Greediness, corruption and vice have also been fingered as being central to the economic penury that has become the face of Zimbabwe over the years.

Currently, pay dates for the civil service have been shifted a record fourth time. Our kith and kin are virtually found in every corner of the world battling to make ends meet. Even the current rise of prosperity teachers and juju-people, psychologists maintain, has been fortified by the tottering economy which has left masses vulnerable. People are rushing to and fro seeking for solutions. So bereft of ideas have we become that even senior government officials have come to put faith in spiritual leaders much to the chagrin of the masses.

Now, where exactly am I going with this article? Well, I am simply saying this: we may go into history to try and cast blame for the gargantuan scandals that have rocked the country since 1980. We may dig deeper and try to throw the blame on the enormous amounts spent on the DRC war. We may take a stroll into the archives and find corruption of elephantine proportions steaming within higher offices. We may again visit recent developments on the political scene and want to apportion blame on the perceived underperformance of the inclusive government. We may again try and blame, on the spiritual side, some mythical demons of poverty stalking the country.

The level of our desperation has reached alarming levels. Indeed we have been plagued by economic stagnation for years. It becomes only natural to want to shift blame and seek all manner of solutions but, my friends, does the solution to Zimbabwe’s economic malaise really lie in individuals or political parties? Why have we placed all hope in mortals? Is it really the politics that will change the tide? Is it really some miracle-worker who will bail out the country? Will vicious criticism of government policies shift our fortunes? Who will really bail-out Zimbabwe?

In our desperation, it would appear, we are rushing everywhere for solutions without posing to think there is One who is able to bring the Zimbabwe we all want. The Zimbabwean situation lies bare before God. At times, God is unable to intervene in our situations as long as we see other saviours that are not him. It would only take him a few moments to change the current embittering scenario into an enviable scenario. God knows best when our fortunes will change and under what leadership. However, as the citizenry, we are well within our earthly rights to rant and rave about the present difficulties but there is nothing in this world that happens outside God’s will.

Only God can change our economic fortunes and only he can bail out Zimbabwe? As much as many have reservations on the leadership of this country, our hope is not in individuals or medicine-men for that matter. The answer lies with the Man above himself. He wields all manner of power whether atheists believe it or not. Zimbabwe is not forsaken before the Lord for, he says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Now, am I saying people mustn’t voice their political concerns or condemn corporate misconduct? Far from it; the central point of this article is this: Let’s remove trust in individuals whether political or religious. Our hope should be in God. Only he can make Zimbabwe come right. Even our individual difficulties are known before him and in the fullness of time Zimbabwe shall be well.

Catholic youth in Church are set to host youths from Europe, America and Africa in a 10day mag+s/magis experience from the 15th to the 24th of August this year. The event will take place in various selected places and with few selected local Catholic youths participating. It is running under the theme “The Ignite Africa Experience.”

Magis is a young adults movement aimed at formulating a people who are “people for others” who always try to secure justice, faith, love and peace and the vision of St Ignatius of “finding God in everything” will be the major drive.

The event is expected to host 400 youths from various invited countries. According to the organizers of the event, 13 countries have confirmed attendance and these are Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles, Mauritius and Angola.

The 10 day experience will begin with “The Ignatian Gathering” that will run from 15-17 August at St Ignatius College with “The Experiments Week” from18-22 August all over Zimbabwe and will close with “The Ignatian Celebrations”23-24 August at Visitation Makumbi mission.

The youths are expected to get exposure to the real African situation in areas of social justice, environmental and ecological experience, HIV and AIDS in as well as spirituality and St Rupert’s Magonde , Mutemwa , Benedictan Monastery Macheke , Mashambanzou in Zimbabwe,  and Chikuni Mission in  Zambia are some of the areas that are set to host various activities and experiences during the event.

The Mag+s Zimbabwe coordinating team is inviting the young and old aged to the Ignite Africa festival at Makumbi Mission which is on the 23rd of August and tickets are going for $5 only.

Fr Norbert Menezes SJ, a scholar from India and currently touring Jesuit schools in Zimbabwe, has expressed satisfaction with the way the Jesuit Province in Zimbabwe is running its education institutions.

Fr Norbert is set to facilitate the Annual Jesuit School Heads Colloquium to be hosted in by Zambia in Siavonga from the 18th to the 22nd of June 2014.He is optimistic to see a uniform Jesuit legacy from both countries despite operating on different continents.

Fr Norbert has been in Zimbabwe for a week and toured some of the Jesuit schools that include Visitation Makumbi, St Ignatius Chishawasha and St Peters Mbare. Fr. Norbert is pleased to see young people who have a passion for education and applauded the work being done by the teachers and other supporting staff at these institutions.

“I’m eager to understand the Jesuit legacy of education, that is, what makes a Jesuit school Jesuit and to see participants sharing the Zimbabwean and the Zambian legacy in as far as Jesuit education is concerned. We will be searching together how the legacy works in our provinces and I, myself would like to understand Jesuit education in the African contest.” said Fr Menezes.

While in the country, he took time to visit some of the poor communities in Harare such as Mbare and Epworth and acknowledged the work the Jesuits are doing in poor communities particularly Mbare and advised that they should continue with such good works despite facing a lot of drawbacks.

A Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics teacher by profession, Fr Norbert who has written 11 academic books, four of them being in his vernacular language said he is much interested in providing better teaching skills to those in the field. He added that he has enjoyed his stay in the country and is happy to facilitate this coming annual colloquium.

Zimbabwe Lay Catholic Marian group is set to make a pilgrimage to Ngome Marian Shrine in South Africa on the 18th of June 2014.

A group which comprises of 38 Lay Catholics in Zimbabwe who believe in “Jesus through Mary” is embarking on a 5 day spiritual pilgrimage to KwaZulu Natal, South Africa that will see them returning on the 23rd of June.

The group which is coordinated by Mrs Shara, a renowned Catholic Music composer was formed in 2004 by the latter after she visited the Shrine with the fellow Catholics from Lesotho and thought it will be a noble idea if she would engage other people who might be willing to join the pilgrim.

According to Mrs Shara, visiting this sacred place has brought a lot in her life as well as changing her for the better and many others’ spiritual life. “I had heart a problem but since I started using Holy Water from the seven springs, a place at the shrine, that was the end of it and I never took tablets and I had some visions especially on my composition of music, all are directed to the Eucharist which is one of the seven sacraments in the church”, she said

Ngome Marian shrine, a place that was established by SrReinolda May after different notable visionary encounters in 1955 is said to be a home of seven holy springs which provide water for healing purposes and many people have been healed after using the water and visiting the place.

Mrs Shara attests to a healing miracle in 2013. A woman from Chivi on the pilgrimage was using clutches, but came back walking without the aid of them. Since then, she has been walking without clutches.

There are three places in Africa, where Marian shrines have become places of great worship, associated with Mary revealing herself to “all nations”. Egypt houses Zeitoun Shrine, Rwanda has Kibeho shrine while there is South Africa has Ngome Marian shrine. Benediction, confessions, all night prayer and Masses will be the order of the pilgrimages.