HARARE, May 10 (NewsDay Live) - The Celebration Centre Amphitheatre in Borrowdale was transformed into a hub of intense spiritual devotion on Saturday night as local and international gospel heavyweights took to the stage for the highly anticipated Free & Found concert.
Hosted by The Jesus Initiative, the event drew a massive crowd that filled the 162 Swan Drive venue for a marathon of high-energy praise and soulful worship.
The evening opened with an energetic performance by Bulawayo-based artist Snowy. The praise leader set a high standard for the night, delivering a vibrant set that quickly ushered the audience into an atmosphere of celebration.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect from the opening act, but Snowy completely blew me away. By the second song, everyone around me was on their feet,” said attendee Paidaishe Kandoro.
The momentum shifted from excitement to awe when legendary gospel icon Pastor G made a surprise guest appearance. His unexpected entrance sparked a roar of approval from the congregation, reinforcing the event’s theme: Worship in Spirit and in Truth.
“When Pastor G walked out, I literally screamed. Nobody saw that coming. That was the moment I knew the night was going to be special,” said Tariro Manyika, who travelled from Chitungwiza for the concert.
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Dynamic vocal ensemble The Unveiled maintained the night’s high tempo with a seamless string of popular hits. Their performance stood out for its technical precision and the crowd’s enthusiastic participation in every chorus.
“The Unveiled were tight. Every harmony and every transition was on point. You could tell they had prepared seriously for this,” Manyika added.
Adding a regional flair to the lineup, South African gospel group Hush S.A. delivered what many described as a harmonically rich performance, serving as the perfect precursor to compatriot Khaya Mthethwa.
Mthethwa, a household name in African gospel music, thrilled the audience with a sophisticated set featuring original compositions and creative mashups of globally recognised worship anthems.
“Khaya is just in a different league vocally,” said longtime fan Blessing Choto. “When he went into that mashup, the whole amphitheatre lifted. People had their hands raised and tears running down their faces.”
As the night moved toward its conclusion, the atmosphere reached fever pitch for headline act Takesure Zamar Ncube. The “Kuregerera” hitmaker did not disappoint the thousands who had gathered primarily to experience his ministry.
Ncube’s performance was marked by a deep communal connection as he led the amphitheatre through a powerful closing session of worship that stretched late into the night.
“Zamar didn’t perform he ministered. There’s a difference, and you could feel it,” said Farai Dube, a worship leader from Harare.
“By the end, nobody wanted to leave. People were still worshipping even after the lights came on.”
Attendees leaving the venue described the event as a landmark moment for Zimbabwe’s gospel scene in 2026, praising both the seamless organisation and the diverse range of talent on display.