Dudu Manhenga in Damascene moment

AFRO-JAZZ sensation, Dudu Manhenga, who in 2013 was convicted for causing the death of a motorcyclist in a road accident back in 2010, is now a pastor with Jubilee Christian Centre under Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe.

Manhenga has been a member of the church for the past 13 years.

The 35-year-old artiste began her music career at the tender age of 16.

In 2013, Manhenga was sentenced to 18 months in prison. However, the sentence was wholly suspended with the artiste paying a $1 000 fine.

Manhenga believes that if she had listened to her "father" and Overseer, Reverend Never Muparutsa's advice to take up ministry 10 years ago, she would not have gone through a tumultuous season in her life.

"Around 2006, there was a prophetic word saying l was supposed to be a church minister. Right at that time, my father told me to drop this stuff (music) and go to Bible School.

"But at that time, my name was getting famous, I was a Jonah. So he (father) would always say that you know you are taking a winding path. I was enjoying the tours, the traveling. The thought of sitting in Bible School gave way to the thought that I would starve, my children would not have shoes on their feet.

"But there are events that I am not ready to share with the public that led to this wake up moment. God said there is no way out. God showed me a certain defined and distinct way," she said.

Performing at Call to Worship music night last Saturday, Manhenga quoted scriptures from the Bible before leading the worshippers in song.

While many would think that the 2010 accident was Manhenga's Damascus moment, she insisted that she did not surrender her life to ministry because of the trial and prison experience.

"That accident happened in 2010 and only came into the paper about three years and eight months later. I was already in Bible School by that time. This thing had happened three years before and l knew that it had to have its ending here on earth because the word of God says respect the rules of the land.

"Whichever way, I was prepared for the earthly closure. One can't pray to God saying, 'Oh Lord, allow me to have unprotected sex and not get pregnant or any STI.'

"Here on earth, things will play out the way they play out. But between me and God, the matter had been resolved, I went through the healing process and everything else involved in the walk," she explained.

"lf l  had known what I know now, I would have immediately dropped everything that I was doing and picked ministry. But I needed that training for me to carry out ministry with the maturity I now have. I think God allows such things to happen and he gives us free will and the long rope so we get training. Back in 2006, I probably didn't have the maturity for it. I would have made a mess of it.

I would probably have gone into it thinking of fame and I would have tried to be a celebrity pastor.

"But now I happen to be a public figure who is a pastor. And that doesn't phase me anymore. I realise it's all vanity of vanities," said Manhenga.

She has also abandoned performing in bars.

She highlighted her gradual and deliberate move to rebrand herself through playing in certain places, 'because there is somewhere we are driving at.'

Being a wife, mother of four, musician and pastor, Manhenga said the latter role could never be fully prepared for.

"It's a very difficult task that one can't be completely prepared for because as you are walking with people and you are sharing in their lives, you discover that there is so much to human beings that they don't let off when they walk, looking good in their weaves, in nice dresses and smiles.

"When I handle people, I handle them with gloves. While they show me this, there is a space that God wants to fill and heal. That's the contrast with being on stage, seeing people from afar and not interacting with their lives while kind of pouring out mine.

"Now I am at a place where they are right here and I hear their stories every single day. It's a calling, you can't do it just because you want to do it, you have to have enough room.

"People now have to consolidate that. Some still see me as a larger than life person from the stage and they ask themselves, do I go and tell her that there is no food in my house, that I am fighting with my husband?

"That becomes a challenge with most people. But for me, it has been really a smooth transition because I have gone through some preparation," she said.

Manhenga said her music would continue to identify with Christianity.

She hinted that she is working on a new project with a new team.

"I used to live for the brand Dudu, I would wake up and think what's next? Now I am not under pressure to perform. If I pray for you I say in Jesus' name and He has to sort it out. I am just in this zone and God is in control."

Rev Muparutsa said Manhenga needed the experience before getting into ministry.

"You cannot be a pastor until you are broken and I think she needed that brokenness. You can't pastor people if you have never been broken," he said.