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Lovemore Chikova Christian Entertainment
There is no doubt that Christians in Zimbabwe are starved of entertainment when it comes to movies and dramas. In fact, those who come up with film and drama productions do not bother about coming up with something that has Christian themes. This is actually surprising considering that Christians make the majority of people in the country.

I was happy recently when Honde Valley TV Association in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation announced that they were going to release a new series, “Dead End”.

For those not in the know, the movie has already done some episodes on ZTV every Tuesday at 7.30pm.

Previews of the movie had indicated that it has a Christian theme and although I was happy about that, I was also sceptical.

What really were the producers up to? Will they be able to come up with a movie that will capture imagination? Is this not just one of those riff-ruff dramas trying to re-do biblical stories in an exaggerated manner?

These are some of the questions that crossed my mind when I heard about the movie.

This was before I watched the film and I can say now, and rightly so, that “Dead End” is one of the best local productions based on Christianity.

The movie was directed and produced by Moses Matanda, who, to his credit, managed to unearth fresh talent in the film industry.

The main actor is Business Herald journalist Conrad Mwanawashe, who plays the role of a pastor called Joseph Mambo.

Pastor Mambo’s enemy in the film is The Prince of Darkness 666 also known as Maselas acted by Farai Chigudu.

The story revolves against Pastor Mambo, who is kidnapped while in prayer and is held captivity by Maselas and his gang.

A few of Pastor Mambo’s followers are also captured together with him.

What follows is an intriguing drama as the Prince of Darkness Maselas and his gang, and Pastor Mambo and his followers try to outwit each other using their beliefs.

Pastor Mambo’s crime is that he preaches against drug abuse, homosexuality and other social ills that affect society. On the other hand, Maselas promotes these social crimes.

What is most important about this film is that it brings aspects of everyday life to the fore.

For instance, its story revolves around Mbare where Maselas controls his evil gangs, while Pastor Mambo is head pastor of Forward in Faith Ministries ZAOGA Church in the same suburb.

What is also important about the film is that it is action packed.

The film is shot on different sites including Leisure Centre in Ruwa, Bar Rouge in Harare and King Haven, also in Harare.

It opens with Pastor Mambo being kidnapped while in prayer and then he is tied to a chair using ropes.

While being tied, Maselas’ gang taunts Pastor Mambo and threatens him with a knife and other objects.

And the intention is clear from the start. Pastor Mambo declares to a member of Maselas’ gang who is threatening him with the knife: “Take the knife off my face, you will not kill me.”

As if overpowered by the command, the gang member unwillingly drops the knife.

Pastor Mambo is then removed from the chair to the backyard where he is tied to a tree.

He then declares: “God of Ezekiel, you are my God, even in captivity Lord I continue to worship you.”

The gang starts mocking him: “Let’s see if God of Ezekiel is going to save you.”

Another gang member shouts: “There is no God.” And they start spitting on Pastor Mambo.

In a scene reminiscent of Jesus’ words on the cross, Pastor Mambo says: “Forgive them father, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Maselas then arrives on the scene accompanied by his bodyguards who brandish different weapons and declares: “I am the light, the way and the truth.”

But Pastor Mambo looks at him and calmly responds: “Jesus is the only light, the way and the truth.”

Maselas then threatens anyone who dares cross his path.

He says: “Triple six kills anyone who stands in the truth of darkness. I give you democracy, I give you freedom. Freedom is the right to do what you want, freedom is the right to dress freely. Freedom is the right to speak freely. Let’s have the American dream in our land.”

After this, Pastor Mambo remarks that he has never thought that he would see the Anti-Christ in his days.

But Maselas is straight to his point: “Let’s welcome gays and lesbians in our society. They are people like us, there is no need to condemn them.”

Pastor Mambo, even when still tied to the tree, has the guts to chide Maselas: “No, this is insane. Your teachings are evil. Forgive them father for they do not know what they are doing.”

But Maselas says he teaches equal rights.

Pastor Mambo then demands that if Maselas truly teaches equal rights then he must untie him from the tree.

After being untied, Pastor Mambo sets the tone of the movie by revealing who he is and what he stands for.

“I fear no man, but God,” he says. “Let me start by introducing myself to you all. My name is Joseph Mambo.

“I am a pastor at Forward In Faith Ministries Zaoga in Mbare. My father is Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti. He became my father when he introduced me to the God almighty. The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.

“This is a wonderful God, an awesome God. He doesn’t rule by fear, but by love. Love is the gateway to equal rights. All equal rights must be embedded in the foundation of God who is love.”

Pastor Mambo continues: “My point is, Zimbabwe is the sacred land of God and do not let homosexuality ruin it. What happens in the West must stay in the West.

“We must have our own Zimbabwean dream, for we live in Zimbabwe. Our children must obey their parents, let’s give them love not death. There is no life in homosexuality. How can two men give life? How can two women give life?”

Through mentioning existing places and people, the movie manages to capture the imagination of the viewers.

After Pastor Mambo’s lecture, there is a heated exchange between him and Maselas on the subject of spiritual fatherhood, which is a topical issue in Zimbabwe.

Maselas demands that Pastor Mambo bows to him since he also bows to Ezekiel Guti who is a man.

But Pastor Mambo says there is great difference between Maselas and his spiritual father who is “a man of God. His anointing comes from God”.

Pastor Mambo and his followers are now in a cage where they are supposed to be starved for 40 days and 40 nights as Maselas tries to disapprove that Jesus went through that experience.

Maselas openly said no man can go for such long without eating or drinking.

It will be interesting in the next episodes to watch what will happen to Pastor Mambo and his followers.

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