Vote counting at Mai Misodzi hall in Mbare (photo: M. Chibaya).

Catholic bishops have said the “fairness of the (electoral) process is in dispute”, calling for problems and irregularities to be fully investigated by responsible authorities.

Father Frederick Chiromba, secretary-general of the Catholic bishops’ conference, said the “problems and irregularities that were experienced must be investigated by the appropriate” legal authorities and will “provide lessons for future elections”.

Noting that many previous elections in Zimbabwe “have been marred by violence,” Fr Chiromba said it is significant that “this time there was no overt violence”.

“The fact that the elections were rushed may have compromised their credibility,” he added.

Mugabe announced the election date on June 12.

Last Saturday Robert Mugabe was declared the winner, giving him a seventh term as president. He reportedly gained 61 per cent of the vote. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, meanwhile, has accused Mugabe’s party of vote-rigging.

Bishop Alexio Churu Muchabaiwa of Mutare, chairman of the national Catholic justice and peace commission, said that the polls “were very peaceful compared to the 2008 elections”, which were marred by violence and intimidation.

“But there was intimidation this time around, too,” he said, particularly in rural areas, traditionally strongholds of Mugabe’s party.

The commission and the Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa said that they recorded 47 incidents of poll irregularities in the elections.

Bishop Muchabaiwa told a press conference that the Catholic Church was concerned that a significant number of voters could not find their names on the voters’ roll.

“There are more incidents that are yet to be verified,” he said.

The Church “strongly encouraged people to participate” in these elections, Fr Chiromba said, noting that, in a pastoral letter earlier this year, the bishops said this election would be as important in determining the country’s destiny as the 1980 vote that led to independence from Great Britain.

“We are hopeful that a rehabilitated country will bring back those who left Zimbabwe as economic refugees,” Fr Chiromba said.

“There are too few jobs at present to entice many among Zimbabwe’s Diaspora to return home yet,” he said.
Bishop Muchabaiwa said that Zimbabwe’s high unemployment rate and levels of corruption were among the Catholic church’s major concerns.

Zimbabwe is still reliant on food aid, he said, noting that there are insufficient local corn supplies this year.

“Although the supermarkets are fully stocked, many people can’t afford to buy the food they need to feed their families,” he said.

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Archdiocese of Harare Moyo Musande Youth: Feast days

Venue:Mukumbi (Visitation) Mission

Date:16-19 August 2013

Theme: Lord increase my Faith

Fee:US$10

All guild members are welcome  

Local choral music group Chitungwiza Harmony Singers were on Sunday crowned winners after coming out tops in this year’s edition of the Old Mutual regional choir competitions in Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

The 49-member group was on second position after shrugging off stiff competition from 11 other choral groups drawn from different Southern African countries.

The group walked away R7 000 richer, a floating trophy plus a ticket to the finals to be held in December in Durban.

This is the fifth time the group has won the competition, the first time being in 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2012.

Peter Thole, the group’s public relations officer, said the group was over the moon celebrating their victory.

“It’s all Joy, we have won the regional championship and we can’t believe it. This is the fifth time clinching the title and we are very proud of ourselves. We were on second position and we are looking forward to do our best when we go to the finals to be held in Durban later this year.

“We went to South Africa with one thing in mind, to win and lift the national flag high and this is what has happened,” he said.

Chitungwiza Harmony Singers was formed in 1993 and since then have become one of the best choral ensembles in the country.

For several years, they have competed in the Old Mutual Regional Choir Championships in South Africa.

The group failed to travel to America last month for the International Choral Music Festival due to financial constraints.

“We failed to travel to the US last month because of financial challenges, but it is now water under the bridge. The group is now focusing on the Durban competition and we pray all will be well,” Thole said.

Charles Charamba never grows old – the man together with his wife and their backers The Fishers Of Men led a fat fiery crowd of Zimbabweans at Coventry on Saturday in a show that swelled into a thunder-blast of arguably the best solid Gospel vibes ever performed on stage in African history.

People were kept on their feet for a continuous 8 hour well organised session with musician after musician (Lovemore Maziwisa, Aaron Manatsa and The Green Arrows, Jane Doka and others) taking turns in a well attended session that drew masses from various distant cities 200miles away.

But it was only when Pastor Charamba seized the microphone that the very hovering air began to glitter.

Charamba and his wife led a welcoming but gripping performance that invited everyone kids, dudes and lasses, fathers, mothers, to join the Fishers of Men and become instant performing artists. So perfect was the synchrony from the crowd that Charamba accepted a female first vocalist, one only identified as Sibongile to the stage.

The show which concluded Charamba’s UK tour was held at The Welcome Centre, Parkside, in Coventry and was held from 2pm all the way to 10pm.

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Prophetess Beverly Angel wife of prophet Uebert Angel of Spirit Embassy. (photo:M Chibaya).

Prophetess Beverly Angel wife of prophet Uebert Angel of Spirit Embassy last week said her church had raised 24 people from the dead.

Prophetess Angel, a co-founder of Spirit Embassy, said the revelations when she was preaching in Oslo, Norway at a seminar organised by Norway’s Vision Heaven Church.

“I’m so happy to be here, it’s an honour and privilege to be here. And I come with the blessings of my husband, Prophet Uebert Angel, who I serve under. He has released me to come to this meeting. So everything you will see me do here, or what you have already seen, for some have seen me on YouTube, it’s because of the anointing that I have received from him,” she said.

She said through their ministry she has witnessed the hand of God as many lives have been served.

“We don’t do what we do because we are so clever. But it’s simply election by grace. The grace of God has been abound in our lives. We have seen the salvation of thousands of souls. Through our ministry I have seen God touching lives. I have seen people who are dead being resurrected. Last year in our church we had 24 people raised from the dead.”

She also told the congregation of close to 50 people of the miracles that her husband has been doing over the years.

“We have seen serious revival, God performing crazy miracles. We have had miracle weight loss for fat people, people losing weight instantly. 50kgs just falling off somebody. And also weight gain for the skinnier people. We have also seen tall people going shorter, short people growing taller. People with serious addictions being saved just like that.

“We have seen people who are extremely dark going lighter. We have seen people with big shoe size going smaller, and I’m actually one of them, I lost one shoe size. We have seen miracle money. Just money being declared and people have money in their bags, in their hands, in their bank accounts, and even phone credit (airtime). Just people’s phones getting money, money, money,” the prophetess said.

She added: “We have also seem gadgets coming to life, refrigerators that had stopped working five years, ten years ago, coming back to life. Because of the power that we have in the name of Jesus. There is nothing that the Lord Jesus cannot do. He will use a donkey if He has to,” she said, much to the surprise of the white congregants who were listening attentively to her.

Prophetess Bev, who has powers to tell anyone’s phone number, ID number or any other personal information then took the chance to speak on when and how they started their church.

“Our ministry started in 2007. We had a revival in our very own house. We were seeing angels on a daily basis. We were communing with angels on a daily basis. We knew that we had a calling upon our lives. My husband was called when he was aged 7. So we always knew that we were called into ministry, into prophetic ministry, to demonstrate the power of God. And at that age, he knew people’s lives, he would know what was going on in family. Intimate details about people from the age of 7. So it’s not something that he graduated into,” she said. 

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Zimpraise choir performing at the launch of the of the album at HICC. (photo: M Chibaya.)

Zimpraise season six live DVD that was recorded at a colourful ceremony recently at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) is now in its final stages and will be made available on the market anytime soon.

The group’s president Joseph Madziyire confirmed to RelZim about the developments.

“The good news about those who missed the event is that our fourth coming DVD that was recorded recently at H.I.C.C is now in its final stages and fans can expect it on the market anytime soon,” said Madziyire.

The live DVD which was recorded under the theme, ‘It’s all about Jesus’ was graced by celebrated local gospel artistes, who included Pastor G, Sebastian Magacha, Mathias Mhere, Thembalani and American-based Comfort Manyame among others.

This year’s DVD performance will be carrying 35 songs that were selected and arranged by the group’s president Joseph Madziyire.

Madziyire said as Zimpraise they are working hard trying to take the gospel back to basics hence coming up with such projects of the DVDs.

The Zimpraise choir has been in existence for the past decade under the watchful eye of award winning producer McDonald “Mcdee” Chidavaenzi and its president Madziyire.

Recently, the interdenominational gospel choir launched a debut album for a women project titled Women of Praise.

Blessing Shumba is joined by Mathias Mhere right while female gospel artist Agatha Murudzwa looks on. (photo:T. Marwizi)

Upcoming gospel artiste Mathias Mhere will stage gospel shows in South Africa for the first time marketing his album Anoita Munana.

Chamu Chiwanza, Mhere’s manager, told RelZim in an interview yesterday that everything was set for the tour.

“I am happy to inform you that Mathias Mhere will be having a tour of South Africa. He is leaving the country on September 10 ahead of the shows which begin on September 12.

“Our house is in order and he has been rehearsing and we shall be having shows in different cities in South Africa.

“We are also excited with the fact that people in the neighboring country have been communicating with us through social networks saying that they are looking forward for the show,” said Chiwanza.

Apart from performing, Chiwanza said Mhere will also be having interviews with reputable radio stations in South Africa.

“We are also going to hold interviews by some radio stations in South Africa and those that have confirmed so far are Kaya FM and Y-FM,” he said.

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Harvest House International Church

Date: 26 -1 September 2013

Theme: The year of Jubilee

Speakers: Tudo Bismark (Zim), Bishop Musa Sono (RSA), Reverend Eliad Ndeda (RSA), Dr Goodwill Shana (Zim), Reverend Jonathan Jams (UK)

Venue: ZITF Half, Bulawayo

Contacts: +263 9 88 11 31/2/3

Music by Solly Mahlangu SA

Harvest House International Church

Date: 26 -1 September 2013

Theme: The year of Jubilee

Speakers: Tudo Bismark (Zim), Bishop Musa Sono (RSA), Reverend Eliad Ndeda (RSA), Dr Goodwill Shana (Zim), Reverend Jonathan Jams (UK)

Venue: ZITF Half, Bulawayo

Contacts: +263 9 88 11 31/2/3

Music by Solly Mahlangu SA

A self-confessed former Satanist from Chitungwiza, Kudzai Damba, recently opened up on his experiences in the Lucifer weird world and blamed a social network for initiating him into the underworld.

Damba (30) claims to have witnessed the destruction and death of several innocent people, devoured by the underworld during his stint. He related how he was conscripted into Satanism by a friend in 2010 who, in turn, had found out about and joined the underworld from social network associates.

Damba said a friend had told him about the Eye of Horus which is found on some currency, and that it had a page on a social network.

“I searched the page and clicked where it says ‘like’. After ‘liking’ the account, I suddenly received many other friend requests from popular United States artistes who are also members of this cult. I accepted friendship and that was how it all began,” he said.

Damba said he then sent a message expressing his interest in joining Eye of Horus.

He was referred to Venus Satanas, a white woman who is featured on her page wearing red cherry lipstick and hands that are dripping blood.

“The moment I ‘liked’ the page, I felt a deep hot sensation rush through my head down to my feet. My personality immediately changed and I became a merciless and violent person.”

Damba said he could fight 10 people at a time and hurt them badly. He also became a loner.

“I then communicated with Venus Satanas and she told me that she could give me anything from money, powers to kill, steal, and fight. I always got money when I asked for it. Sometimes I could steal and not get caught. The funny thing, however, was that the money was never enough to save.”

However, trouble started when he decided to marry sometime this year. Satanas manifested in a vision with an angry look. She was not happy with this development.

“She wanted me to kill my wife and I flatly refused to take up this assignment. She could tell me the whereabouts of my wife and hint to me that she was having an affair. But all this information was meant to destroy my marriage because I knew that my wife was faithful. In fact, when I was called to come for this interview, she warned me sternly in a vision and dream about going public. I told her I now have a new King Jesus Christ who lives in me,” says Damba who is now a member of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries, where he first testified to thousands of faithfuls about this story.

He urged young people to be careful about what pages they go through social networks because these could lead them into Satanism.

Prophet Walter Magaya, founder of PHD Ministries, said in a telephone interview yesterday that Damba manifested on Sunday last week and gave a testimony the following Wednesday where he confessed about his active role in Satanism.

“He spoke at length about how Satanism had crept into churches and some major institutions. He said Satanism was controlling some of these mentioned bodies. My church is currently taking care of his finances and day-to-day well-being as he and his wife had become almost destitute since he denounced Satanism,” Prophet Magaya said.

Damba actually named some big churches (names withheld) in Harare that were running under the influence of the devil. He added that it was easy to penetrate churches because some church leaders were lukewarm Christians.

A pastor at a Pentecostal church in Zvishavane has been sentenced to perform 420 hours of community service for impersonating a police officer and demanding a bribe amounting to $400 and R200 from a suspect.

He solicited the money from Yamurai Maphosa promising to destroy dockets for three offences she was facing. Jacob Tafa Zhou pleaded not guilty to a count of impersonation and one of bribery when he appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Mr  Tavengwa Sangster on Friday.

He was convicted after a full trial due to overwhelming evidence. The magistrate initially sentenced Zhou to six months in prison but suspended three months for five years on condition of good behaviour. The remaining three months were then commuted to 420 hours of community service at Zvishavane Police Station.

The State’s case was that sometime in May this year, Zhou approached Maphosa and misrepresented himself as a police officer stationed at Zvishavane Police Station.

He demanded $100 from Maphosa saying he would destroy the docket on a case of murder she is allegedly facing. On another day, Zhou phoned Maphosa and told her that another docket had been opened for assault and demanded $100 for him to destroy it and was given the money. Maphosa went on to give Zhou a further 400 rand when he told her that the case was still pending.

Maphosa reported the matter to the police when she later discovered that Zhou was not a police officer leading to his arrest.

Mr Stanley Ncube represented the State.

Youths in the archdiocese of Harare’s Simon Peter and Mary guild will this weekend converge for their feast day celebrations at St Francis of Assisi in Chivhu under the theme, “The faith we savor.”

The theme was chosen in line with the universal Catholic theme for the year, “The Year of faith”, and the youth leaders vowed to make the event in Chivhu an occasion where young Catholics will stand up and celebrate their faith.

The youths, who will be at the Franciscan run mission in Chivhu, will partake in activities that spread from liturgical celebrations to social and cultural exchanges.

There will be opportunities for Mass, poetry, dances, music competition, mock wedding, sports, discussions as well as religious and social presentations from elders in the faith. It also goes without saying that this would be a God given opportunity for the young ones from different parishes dotted around the country to ‘mix and mingle.’

The presence of the more than 250 expected youths in Chivhu will go a long way in strengthening and inspiring the youths of Chivhu who have just started their own Simon and Peter guild. The guest speakers lined up are Fr Linos, Sr Evelyn, Sr Monica all from St Francis of Assisi, and a few from the old members of the guild.

There is no doubt the pinnacle of the feast days will be the singing competitions, in which the members will battle it out on the tune “Mwari ndinokumbirawo hushingi.”

Gospel artiste Sabastian Magacha will be touring United States of America (USA) in October to promote his latest album, Back to Sender.

The will be travelling in the company of his producer cum manager Joseph Madziyire confirmed to this publication about the developments.

“We have been invited by a church organisation to perform in the USA for the second time this year and I can confirm that preparations of the tour are at an advanced stage,” said Magacha.

“This is just the beginning as I embark on numerous shows abroad aimed at taking my music to different countries as requested by my fans as well as promoting my latest album,” he added.

Meanwhile, as another way of marketing Magacha’s music, Madziyire went a step further recently by coming up with the Saba Music label.

The musician said he was humbled by the support he got from the Zimbabweans in the United States adding it was an amazing reception.

“My debut visit was a remarkable welcome and I was humbled by the support I got from the Zimbabweans in the States. I hope we are also going to have good turn out just like the previous time,” he said.

At present, Magacha has featured and shared stage with many renowned artists such as Donnie McClurkin, Israel Houghton, Joyous celebration, Keke from South Africa, Rebbecca Malope, Deborah Frazer, Oliver Mtukudzi and many others.

Magacha has so far taken his music as far as countries like United Kingdom, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, and Mozambique.

South African gospel sensation Solly Mahlangu is expected to perform in the country on September 7 at a gospel show slated for Harare Gardens.

This will be the second time for the praise and worship musician to perform in the country after his debut tour last year.

He will share the stage with local musicians in the likes of Pastor Charles and Olivia Charamba, Mathias Mhere, Sebastian Magacha, Liberty Ticharwa and The Worship Addicts.

Before the grand event, Mahlangu is also expected to perform at the annual four-day Open Heavens Crusade set for September 2 to 6 at Malbereign Shopping Centre.

The annual crusade is the brainchild of Reverend Onisimor Sasa who also confirmed Mahlangu’s show.

“I can confirm that Solly will be in the country soon for the crusade as well as the Harare Gardens gospel show,” said Sasa.

“He was here last year for the same event and we thought of bringing him back this year.”

Mahlangu was born and raised in Tembisa Township in the Eastrand. Brought up by his grandmother, the musician attended school in the same township.

He was raised in a Christian home and discovered his talent as he sang at church. He asked one of his friends in the church who played the accordion to teach him.

He has released a number of gospel albums and some of his popular songs include Wahamba Nathi, Obrigado and OA Ntaela among many others.

Holy Cross sisters profession ceremony

Date: 7 September 2013

Venue: Mukaro mission in Masvingo

Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Elect-Monsignor Munyongani

Date: 14 September 2013

Venue: Gweru Diocese

Brother Bvukumbwe Music Festival

Date: 7 September

Venue: Holy Name Mabereign Church

Diocese Hwange celebrating golden jubilee

Date: 7 September

A ZAOGA church employee has been sacked for falling pregnant out of wedlock.

Yolanda Nyangaza did not only lose her job but her baby as well. Nyangaza who concealed her HIV status in order to marry was forced to give up the child three days after its birth.

She has now filed for custody of her child at the Harare Civil Court against her estranged husband Valentine Munetsi. In her narration Nyangaza told the court that she worked at church premises when she met Munetsi. The court heard that Nyangaza knew of her HIV status, but decided to keep it a secret until her boyfriend had sexual intercourse with her.

“He pressured me into having sex and I failed to tell him the truth until I fell pregnant. I was sacked from my employment at church premises because it is church policy that one should not fall pregnant before marriage,” she said.

Nyangaza told the court that she then married her husband in December while she was four months pregnant, but still she had not told him of her status.

“When I went to see my gynaecologist she suggested that I go for testing, I was found positive and my husband negative. He demanded that we go on separation because he could not stomach it and I decided to tell him the truth,” she said.

She gave birth while the parties were on separation and three days after giving birth he made her surrender the child to him.

“Initially I allowed him to take the child, but I asked where they were taking the child but he refused to say,” she said.

She added that she was later allowed access on appointment for not more than 10 minutes.

Responding to the allegations Munetsi who was represented by his lawyer told the court that the doctors advised Nyangaza to avoid breast feeding the child to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Magistrate Ms Olivia Mariga postponed the matter to Tuesday for ruling.