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Zimpraise on stage

Tafadzwa Zimoyo Arts Reporter

All is set for the Zimpraise international gospel and music summer festival which runs from tomorrow till Saturday at Harare Gardens.The festival is in three parts involving fashion night, praise and worship workshop and “Heal Zimbabwe” concert and prayer night that will be hosted by radio presenters Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa and Tich Mataz.

The event will be graced by top South African and local gospel musicians Sipho Makhabane, Jabu Hlongwane, Hlengiwe Mhlaba, Matthias Mhere, Pastor G, Minister Amos Mahendere and Sharon Manyonganise among others.

Makhabane of the “Yekintozo” fame — who has a string of hit albums to his name which have made him a top gospel household name in Africa will this time rekindle fond memories with his Zimbabwean fans at the festival to be held at Kingston House and the Harare Gardens.

In an interview, Zimpraise publicist Tendai Zhou said preparations are at advanced stage for the festival as rehearsals are taking place.He said the event will include workshop under praise and worship in a bid to develop the church and community.

“The mammoth event will start with a free gospel fashion night fiesta which will be held at Kingston House tomorrow starting at 5:30pm.This will be a strictly red-carpet event and we have partnered with popular celebrity style shop Janjam, Kuda K7 and Designer Closet among others who are experts in the fashion industry locally.

The music, praise and worship workshop will then follow on the next day from the same venue as from 10am.“The workshop will be centred on audio-visual arts in the church, presentation, worship-leading, career in the church, identifying your calling, lifestyle of gospel singers and mentorship. This is also free of charge,” he said.

Zhou said Makhabane flies in this Friday ahead of the “Heal Zimbabwe” concert and prayer night.“The highlight of the whole event is the “Heal Zimbabwe” concert on Friday which will be centred on interceding for good things to come towards the nation of Zimbabwe.

“This will be a time for Zimbabweans and visitors from outside the country to interact through art. The family fun day and music gala slated for Saturday is an all day event till late with Zimpraise, bringing the curtain down on the same at 9pm,” he said.

He said they were happy to have brothers and sisters from across the Limpopo to help them celebrate their 10th anniversary.“We hope to have more synergies of this nature in future and Zimpraise continues to promote the church and community through music,” he said.