Rebecca Malope comes to Gwanda

South Africa queen of gospel music Rebecca Malope is making her way to the forgotten Matabeleland South capital of Gwanda at the end of August.

Malope undoubtedly the biggest name in contemporary gospel music on the continent posted on her Twitter account that she will be performing at Gwanda stadium on the 28th and 29th of August 2015. This will be the first time that Malope will be performing in the town in her over 20 years in the music industry.

South African based sources close to the international star confirmed that the queen of gospel will indeed be performing at Gwanda Stadium at the end of August. The sources said that Malope will share the stage with four other award winning South African gospel outfits Lusanda Spiritual Group, Deborah Fraser, Hlengiwe Mhlaba and Sifiso Ncwane.

According to the sources the two nights concert is being organised to officially open a newly built Gwanda Brethren of Christ Church. The church which is arguably set to be the biggest single worship centre in the Matabeleland South is said to have been built at a cost about a million United States dollars.

The sources further revealed that the artists are already busy rehearsing for the tour of Gwanda with the first contingent of technical staff having already visited the town to set up the logistics if what is bound to be the biggest event to hit the small town of Gwanda.

According to the sources who would not be mentioned at this stage, the artists have been fully paid by the Zimbabwean church to the tune of over R5 million. The crew is expected to bring to the country the biggest musical equipment yet seen in the country with back up generators and lighting all imported from South Africa.

A contingent of about 100 crew and support staff will be accompanying the gospel artists. The crew are expected to arrive in the country two weeks before the dates if the concert.

Efforts to get comments from the local organisers of the show were fruitless as the pastor in charge of the Brethren Of Christ Church in Gwanda was said to be out of the country at the time of going to press. Information made available by sources at the church however confirmed that the artists will indeed be visiting the church for the official opening ceremony of the church. The sources claimed that there will be no charges to gain entry into the two night concerts as these will be part of the events to present the church to the people of Gwanda.

An official at the Arts Council in Bulawayo confirmed to the media that the mentioned artists have been cleared by the Council to perform in Gwanda at the of August. The official would however not confirm if the artists will indeed beer performing at no charge to the audience.

"I can't confirm if the shows will indeed be free to members of the public or will be charged and if so at how much," said the official. "If the shows will indeed be free then the organisers must make very stringent preparations for the huge crowd that is expected to attend an event of this magnitude," he added.