Gospel festival euphoria grips Gwanda
By Nigel Pfunde
Euphoria has gripped the town of Gwanda ahead of the the second edition of the Gwanda Gospel Festival that roars into life today through to Sunday.
Accommodation in Gwanda is fully booked as a contingent of South African Christian business people jetted into the country Thursday night.
A massive gala dinner was held at Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel Thursday night where the chief organisers of the festival Justice Maphosa of Bigtime Strategic spelt and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority spelt out their vision and the need for South Africa and Zimbabwe to unite in prayer and improve religious and business relations.
It was at the same occasion that Maphosa was appointed president of the SA Zim Business Connection organisation.
“The festival is for free and we want the people of Gwanda to worship and enjoy music.We also want to strengthen relations between South Africa and Zimbabwe because we are just separated by a mere geographical land form,” said Maphosa.
Tourism minister Walter Mzembi concurred with Maphosa and said the gospel extravaganza was meant to boost religious tourism as evidenced by the massive traffic that came in for the festival.
ZTA head of communications Sugar Chagonda said the festival will be held at Pelandaba Stadium and artistes to perform include Rebecca Malope, Andile Majola, Lusanda, Mathias Mhere, Charles Charamba, Judith Moyo and Zimpraise Choir among others.
He also highlighted the importance of the extravaganza.
“The event is free and designed to pay homage to the Lord.From a tourism point of view we have seen that it has a lot of potential to become a major event as people travel from SA and across the.country, said Chagonda.
“We are likely to see downstream benefits for the people of Gwanda as a result of the economic activities which will see people selling their wares and services during the festival.” said Chagonda.
Meanwhile, Pastor Charles Charamba told Showbiz that he was ready for the festival and was impressed by the organisers philosophy.
“We are ready to minister through singing. I am also inspired by Mr Maphosa’s testimony,” he said.
