2 - 23 February 2014 - The Observer
Dudu Manhenga now a Prophetess
A
LOICE GORE
fro-jazz
musician
Duduzile Manhenga
– popularly known
as Dudu - will very
soon be a pastor, and a prophetess
thereafter!
She has turned to God to turn
around her life and her fortunes.
“I am training to do pastoral
work at Pan-African Christian
College in Hatfield,” Dudu said.
The College is renowned for
producing Christ-led preachers,
among them Pastor Muzenda,
a female pastor who runs her
assembly in Harare. Pastor Barry
Dambaza, a senior pastor at Upper
Room Assemblies also trained at the
same seminary Dudu is attending.
Asked if after completion of
her studies she will morph into a
prophetess, Dudu said: “If you
read your Bible you will learn that
there are gifts God gives. I am being
equipped for pastoral ministry,
anyone can go train as a pastor and
gifts are decided by God.”
Dudu’s manager, Ndumiso
Ndhlovu, confirmed Dudu was now
studying to be a pastor.
Giving details about the
songstress on her life out of prison
on bail, Ndumiso said: “Dudu
has a busy schedule now as she is
juggling school and her career in
music. She is studying Theology at
the Pan African Theological College
in Hatfield here in Harare, and she
is in her second her of a three-year
programme.”
He went on to reveal that she is
staunch believer who worships at
the Pentecostal Assemblies of God.
“Dudu wants to be a pastor, she
is following her calling now,” said
the manager.
Dudu was last year sent to prison
for an effective 18 months in prison
after being found guilty of culpable
homicide and driving with a learners
licence without supervision. Harare
magistrate Ms Blessing Marwizi
sentenced her to 24 months in
prison before setting aside six
months on condition that she does
not commit a similar offence within
the next five years.
She was also fined US$300 or
three months in prison for driving
without supervision.
The facts of the case were that
on March 15, 2010, Dudu was
driving along Sherwood Drive in
Mabelreign, Harare. Dudu was
driving along the northern direction
of the road while the now deceased
Graham Martin Millward was on
his motorcycle heading south.
She turned right into number 14,
knocking down the now deceased.
Dudu, who spent close to two
weeks in jail, was freed on $200
bail by High Court Judge Felistas
Chatukuta.
Some commentators were full of
praise of Dudu’s move.
Said Daves Guzha, producer at
Rooftop Productions: “I think there
is nothing wrong for the human soul
to be on a spiritual growth path. I
think it is good for her.”
Said another commentator, who
preferred anonymity: “Dudu’s move
is commendable, especially in these
days when we have many prophets
who have not gone through pastoral
training but just wake up and call
themselves God-called prophets.”
After her release from captivity,
Dudu made few public appearances;
one at Misty’s Bar in Newlands and
another at her home base, the Book
Café with her band 3G.
She also performed at private
functions and of note, at Village of
Hope Orphanage in Harare.
On another note, the songbird
also released a video for her new
gospel album For You.
Said Ndhlovu: “The video name
is called Mahala, it’s from her fifth
album, a gospel album. Dudu has
not changed her sound, she sounds
much better and her message is no
longer just about social commentary,
but also for the love of God.”
He said that the videos will be
released in a three-month interval
for the fans to slowly enjoy them
but after all of them have been shot,
they will be compiled and released
as one DVD compilation.
“She is also working on
collaborations with various artists
but l cannot say much now, just keep
your fingers crossed for a blast,” he
said.
Ndhlovu said Dudu’s fan base
has subsequently grown because of
the change she has undergone in
her music. Hope that her pastoral
calling will help turn around her
sentence, and preach to the world
the goodness of honesty.■
Masimirebwa donates
to Gushungo Dairy
F
BARNABAS THONDHLANA
ormer
Zimbabwe
Mining
Development Corporation Godwills
Masimirembwa allegedly donated $1
million to the Alpha Omega Dairy popularly known as Gushungo Dairy.
The donation was of state-of-the-art dairy
production equipment sourced from abroad to
improve production at the equally state-of-theart unit. In production at the plant are various
dairy products such as fresh milk, ice cream,
yoghurt, juices and mineral water.
While President Robert Mugabe reportedly
angrily turned down the US$1 million
“donation”, his reaction was late as the “die
had already been cast”, knowleageable sources
said this week.
The US$1 million donation came at the
height of a Police probe into operations at Gye
Nyame Resources diamond mine, one of the
nine companies mining the precious stone in
the country.
Sources close to the happenings said the
President lost his cool and his temper. He did
not want, it is said, to involve himself in shady
deals of suspect origins.
“In fact, President Mugabe called for the
scalps of all involved in the deal who were
working at Gushungo Dairy,” said the source.
“He said they had to be fired immediately.”
It was only through the intervention of
a leading Zaoga pastor that the President
regained his temper and changed his mind.
The pastor was called in to intercede on behalf
of the staff who cried they had nothing to do
with the donation as their role had only been
on the inventory list.
“The staff members thought they were
doing the First Family a big favour, only to be
shocked by the President’s reaction,” said the
source.
Some of the equipment acquired for
Gushungo Dairy included: a complete milk
processing line and product storage system.
This processing line produces several types
of market milk products, i.e. whole milk,
skimmed milk and standardized milk of
various fat contents. Another was an LPG
Series High Speed Centrifugal Atomizing
Drying equipment. This drying equipment
is the widest used technology in the liquid
shaping technology and in the drying industry.
It is most suitable for producing powder,
particle or block solid products from materials
of solution, emulsion, soliquoid and pumpable
paste states.■