Aaron Gono
On 14 June 2025, St Patrick’s Gokomere Mission held a music choral competitions; consisting of 38 choral groups drawn from all the Roman Catholic Church Masvingo Diocese deaneries.
The competitions were staged in the popular amphitheater known as “Gato ra Muzondo.” It is a replica of Italian amphitheaters, built of stone by architects from Italy in the 1950s.
The Italians cherished their granite stones, which they used to build most of the Roman Catholic churches found mainly in urban precincts in Zimbabwe. Just pay a visit to Gokomere and Drierfontein Missions and witness the proper use of stones.
The music competitions were done to foster love, peace and unity among parishioners as well as honing their mastery and eloquence in church songs.
What is likable about any competition is the losers always try to justify their weaknesses.
As Saint Peter & Paul and Don Bosco parishes scooped the number 1 and 2 positions, an outcry by the losing choirs erupted accusing adjudicators of favouritism and patronage. The other loosing choirs demanded outside adjudicators.
As a scribe, l quickly nodded as a sign of approval. And l asked them ‘ where this independent judges would come from?’ The answer was not convincing, as some said from other churches like the Methodist, Dutch Reformed Church, Seventh Day Adventist, Anglican, etc.
But from my experience l understand there is nothing that is called “independent.” Independent from whom? Anybody can pretend to be so, whether from SDA, Methodist, etc but as time moves, the likelihood of being called “captured” will surface again.
There was a time when St Patrick’s Gokomere Mission ruled the roost in these choral and national Catholic competitions. I liked it because we were the ones winning. But now l am crying wolf because we are failing to make the grade. We are now looking and searching for realignment.
And l wondered if groups from Makura( Gutu ), St James Chivamba( Zaka ) etc will continue enjoying the ride when they know that they are the whipping boys. Why don’t we uplift their spirits by giving them favourable numbers? Because these competitions tell us who we are as Catholics, a family of love, unity and peace.
“Isu tinovimba na Mambo, vakasika denga na pasi.”
Amen!
