Gospel gala illuminates Gwanda

THE two-night gospel gala featuring award-winning South African artistes began last night at Phelandaba Stadium in Gwanda, Matabeleland South.

Rebecca Malope, Lusanda Mcinga who leads the Lusanda Spiritual Group, Hlengiwe Mhlaba, Tshepiso Motaung, Dumi Mkokstad, Bethuseli Mcinga, jazz legend Tshepo Tshola and Takesure Ncube are headlining the gala meant to market the Matabeleland South capital.

The gospel gala is free of charge.

Gwanda mayor Knowledge Ndlovu has promised uninterrupted water supplies to the venue, and suburbs surrounding the venue to avert any outbreak of waterborne diseases, while the organisers have brought generators to ensure continuous electricity supply in the event of a power outage.

The concert is sponsored by South Africa-based Gwanda-born businessman Justice Maphosa who said the event has cost millions of rands to organise, hire gospel artistes, pay them and transport them to Zimbabwe.

Gwanda Residents' Association expressed joy over the gospel gala.

"The dream all but becomes an unbelievable reality when the queen of gospel (Malope) makes her way to our good old dusty Jahunda township.

"We are particularly humbled that the main partner in bringing the event to Gwanda is a child of Gwanda who most of us saw growing and playing in the town from the most humble of backgrounds, very typical of the residents of our town," the association said in a Press release.

Maphosa is the chief executive officer of Big Time Strategies Consultants, a company with interests in the ICT world ranging from sales and retail, corporate, aviation, local government and various government departments in SA.