By Quegas Mutale in Hwange

The Catholic Diocese of Hwange held its inaugural Catholic Schools music competition at Don Bosco Secondary School on 20 May 2023. This is the first time that Hwange Diocese has held the Catholic schools music competition. 

Fr. Simelinkosi Masango, the diocesan music spiritual director said that the Catholic schools’ music competition which have commenced in the diocese will be conducted annually. He pointed out that the competition was held to motivate and develop the love of music in schools.

The priest emphasized that: “We evangelise through music and we want to touch every soul through sacred music to propagate the gospel of Christ in schools and at every level of our society.”

Fr. Masango, encouraged learners who attended the music competition to be part of the deanery choirs that will compete in Binga on 15 July 2023.

The Tonga hymn for the competition was titled “Twayima kunembo lyako” translated as ‘we stand before you.’ The same hymn, composed by Magadelen Munsaka will be used for the deanery sacred music competitions in Binga on 15 July 2023.

Addressing participants during the music competitions, the Bishop of Hwange, Raphael Ncube noted that singing was meant to “praise and glorify God and discover our oneness as a family.”

Addressing learners, the Bishop said, “I am happy to see you, young people praising God through music.”

The Bishop added that choirs attend the event not to necessarily compete but to show synodality.

To show propagation of synodality in the diocese, Fr. Masango revealed that some of those who were training choirs on the competition hymn were non catholic teachers who have passion for music and had mastered the song so well.

“In other dioceses, schools have been actively participating in music competitions and we have been lagging behind in this regard.  However, we are gradually coming up and we hope that one day we will be a cut above the rest, Fr. Masango said.

The Bishop of Hwange was grateful to parents who allowed their children to take part in the music completion saying that there was great value in music which children can pursue as a business career after school. Bishop Ncube also acknowledged the role played by teachers in empowering, shaping and molding children in the society and church.  

The Catholic Schools music competition was attended by the Hwange District Schools Inspector, Mr. Walter Moyo, the school heads, teachers, parents, clergy, religious, learners, non-Catholic sister school heads and many others.

Marist High school came first in the competitions with the best choir conductor in the secondary schools category. St. Michaels primary and Sacred Heart secondary schools as a combined choir got a second position. St. Mary’s primary came third followed by St. Josephine Bakhita primary on the fourth position. St. Francis Xavier primary was on the fifth position with the best choir conductor in the primary schools category. St. Martin De Porres primary was on position six. There was a tie on position seven between Don Bosco secondary and St. John Mary Vianney primary. St. Georges primary scooped the ninth position. St. John Makwa primary got position 10, whilst St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Kamativi primary came last.