By ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

PREPARATIONS for the prestigious Zim Community Trailblazers fifth edition grand celebrations are at an advanced stage with the organisers calling for more mutually beneficial partnerships.

The coveted awards honour and celebrate trailblazing  individuals and organisations who have made significant contributions to Zimbabwe’s development are set to be held at the HICC on Friday 31 January 2025  under the theme “Promoting a legacy of excellence in our communities.

An organiser, Albert Masaka has announced that they were also going to commemorate the trailblazing achievements of past winners.

“The great thing is that our awards will be held in a celebratory mood as this is our fifth ceremony.”

“We are receiving nominations that can win an award anytime and anywhere, from nominees who have a pioneering mentality, a way of visualizing paths that don’t exist and are blazing new trails .”

 “In that light, we call on stakeholders to come and partner with us financially or in kind to make this event a memorable one for everyone.

“At the moment we can’t divulge much but we are going to honour deserving winners in the coming edition, and plans are in place for our trailblazers who have won in the past.

Masaka added that they have slashed the categories to be won by more than half and this has resulted in an improvement in the quality of nominations.

He added that it was their custom to provide strategic win-win partnerships with their partners.

In a trailblazing rise, the awards that are led by a board chaired by Dr Nigel Chanakira began as a virtual event during the Covid 19 era have grown in status and appeal.

SOME OF THE NOTABLE PAST WINNERS

Church leaders: Pastor Dr Ruth Musarurwa, Pastor Bonnie Deuschle, Prophet Effort Vakai Maphosa

Businessmen:  Dr Nigel Chanakira, Ken Sharpe, Dr Phillip Chiyangwa, Zodwa Mkandla, Beven Makaka, Edzai Kachirekwa, Lincoln Masiyenyama

CEOs: Pikirayi Deketeke, Dr Christine Peta

Politicians: Temba Mliswa

Medical Practitioners: Dr Vivek Solanki, Dr Solomon Guramatunhu, Dr Johannes Marisa, Seasons Pharmaceuticals.

Organisations: Higher Life, Red Cross Zimbabwe, Inner City Mission, Bright Daisies

Sports: Sikandar Razah, Dynamos, Shihan Muripo, Charles Manyuchi, Andie Kuipers, Zim Women U21 (Hockey)

Artists: Charles and Olivia Charamba, Mechanic Manyeruke, Minister Michael Mahendere, Black Umfolosi, Jesesi Mungoshi, Madam Boss, Flame B, B, Rev Chivaviro, Albert Nyathi, Nutty O, Kenny Gamble, Lewis and Tau Ngara, Chaka Ngwenya, Collette Manny.

Journalists: Guthrie Munyuki, Victoria Ruzvidzo, Kholwani Nyathi, Faith Zaba,  Robson Sharuko, Charles Mabika, Moses Mugugunyeki, Terrance Mapurisana, Wadzanayi Mhombera, Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, Abigail Tembo, Michael Gwarisa, Catherine Murombedzi

Philanthropists: Liane Lombard, Brenda Mudzimu,  Fayaz Rahman, Bhuran Weston, Sylvia Sanyanga, Daisy Mukariri, Ruvarashe Masarakufa, Nyasha Nhau

Nominations for the fifth edition of Zimbabwe’s  most prestigious community awards, the Zim Community Trailblazers Awards 2024 (ZCTA), will be open from today,  Tuesday 2 July 2024  and are closing on  31 November 2024.

The awards, which are aimed at recognising and honouring outstanding achievements within our diverse communities, are a solution-based initiative from Perfection Media (Pvt) Ltd. 

The prestigious event is set for Friday 31 January 2025 at the Harare International Conference Centre.

ZCTA 2024 AWARDS CATEGORIES

• Tourism and Hospitality
• 1.      Distinguished Tourism Association
• 2.      Distinguished Hotel Brand
• 3.      Distinguished Airline Partner
• 4.      Outstanding Luxury Airport Lounge
• 5.      Outstanding Luxury Cruise Liner
• 6.      Outstanding Tourism Industry Professional
• 7.      Outstanding Tourism Reporter
• Agriculture
• 8.      Distinguished Agriculture Inputs Producer
• 9.      Outstanding Agriculture Empowerment Project
• 10.  Outstanding Small Scale Farmer
• 11.  Outstanding Agriculture Reporter
• Wildlife
• 12.  Outstanding Safari Operator
• 13.  Outstanding Wildlife Conservation Project
• Health Sector
• 14.  Distinguished Medical Centre
• 15.  Distinguished Health Champion
• 16.  Outstanding Pharmaceutical company
• 17.  Outstanding Health Reporter  
• Education
• 18.  Distinguished Higher and Tertiary Education Institute
• 19.  Outstanding Tertiary Education Technology Hub
• 20.  Outstanding High School
• 21.  Outstanding Educationist
• 22.  Outstanding Education Reporter                                      
•  Mining
• 23.  Distinguished Miner
• 24.  Outstanding Mining Empowerment Project
• 25.  Outstanding Mining Reporter
• Service Delivery
• 26.  Outstanding Urban Municipality
• 27.  Outstanding Rural District Council
• Business
• 28.  Distinguished Real Estate company
• 29.  Distinguished Businessman                                  
• 30.  Distinguished  Clean Energy  Champion
• 31.  Distinguished Telecommunications Company
• 32.  Businessman of the Year
• 33.  Outstanding Construction Company
• 34.  Outstanding Business Couple
• 35.  Outstanding Business Reporter
• Community Champions
• 36.  Distinguished Disability Advocacy Champion                 
• 37.  Distinguished Social Entrepreneur                                               
• 38.  Distinguished  Community Leader
• 39.  Distinguished humanitarian organisation
• 40.  Outstanding  Anti-Drugs Fight Champion                            
• 41.  Outstanding Environment Champion                    
• 42.  Diaspora Community Champion                                             
• Media Awards
• 43.     Distinguished Media Association
• 44.     Distinguished Media Company                 
• Sport
• 45.  Distinguished sportsperson               
• 46.  Outstanding National Sports Team                 
• 47.  Team of the Year                       
• Arts
• 48.  Outstanding Literary Work
• 49.  Arts Promotion Champion
• 50.  Outstanding Musician
•  People’s Choice Award   

Eligibility

All trailblazing Zimbabwean individuals, organisations and partners from our local and the Diaspora communities are invited to submit  entries for  the biggest  awards ceremony in the country.

Entries

Potential awardees for the individual awards will present direct entries with their profiles and  brief citations demonstrating why their work should be honoured in their chosen category/ies.

Individuals can submit a maximum of one entry/portfolio per category.

Entries are to be submitted by emailing to: zctanominations@gmail.com

Further Enquiries: Cell 0776 963414

Note: The selection panel will highly consider how each nominees’ trailblazing work has positively impacted the community.

Gospel music minister, Worship Leader, Entrepreneur and Women’s Advocate

Summary 

Blessing Deve is a gospel music minister and a devoted follower of Christ who is passionate to deliver good news to people across the world in song. She is also an entrepreneur, a business development officer for a thriving media broadcaster and she serves in the worship and women’s ministry in her local church. Blessing is a proud mother of three and an advocate for women.

Background 

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Blessing believes her call to the music ministry came at a very tender age.  She spent most of her upbringing in church owing to the strong Christian family within which she was raised, which laid a foundation to her deep love for God. It is in that time that the passion to serve God through music was ignited within her and she began participating in various choirs and music groups. Some of the choirs and music groups include: Voices of Worship, a non-denominational music outfit which she founded and codirected, as well as an acapella singing group called Sweet Fellowship within the AFM church where she once served. Blessing currently serves as a worship leader in the United Family International Church (UFIC) choir under the mentorship of Prophet Emmanuel and Prophetess Ruth Makandiwa.

Musical Inspiration

Blessing maintains that the key to her music ministry is simply acknowledging Jesus Christ, the owner of the gift and giving Him centre stage in all she does. Her deep spirituality comes through in each and every song and ministration as she states, “Each opportunity I have to minister, I surrender completely to the Holy Spirit so that He will flow through me at His will to His people”.  The goal and major highlight for her is to witness the move of God visibly touching lives and deliverance through moments of ministration.

Although she is deeply Christ-centred in her approach to music, Blessing also draws inspiration from other musicians both internationally and locally in her home country Zimbabwe. Internationally she is inspired by acclaimed worshippers such as Sinach, Cece Winans, Darlene Zschech and the gospel outfit Hillsong. As such, the sound in her music also takes an international feel in line with her vision and desire to touch people across the world. Although she sees the world as her pulpit, Blessing remains profoundly connected within her local Zimbabwean music field drawing inspiration from other fellow local musicians some of whom she has shared the stage with. These include people like Minister Michael Mahendere, Janet Manyowa, Hannah Mapepeta and Jane Doka.

Music Discography

Blessing stepped out as a solo gospel music artist with the release of her debut album God is able in 2016. Craftily produced by exceptionally talented award-winning producer Nigel Nyangombe, the seven-track album captures Blessing’s heart and music outlook. It features songs which draw and point people to God as the source of hope. Blessing says that she wrote and composed these songs at a time when she was going through various transitions in her life where she found comfort and guidance in God who is able. Some of the tracks which still touch many people today include the title track God is able – a song close to Blessing’s heart which reminds people that God is a God of impossibilities. The same album features the song Ngatifare (let us rejoice) which is a song of gratitude. The album was succeeded by a singletrack Zita raJesu (the name of Jesus) produced in 2020, a song that exalts the name of Jesus Christ. Zita raJesu was so well received by the general public that it was recognised on the gospel music charts on major music stations in Zimbabwe including ZiFM Radio and StarFM Radio. Zita raJesu was number one for 6 consecutive on ZiFM Radio.

Following the release and success of Zita raJesu, Blessing successfully hosted a live worship experience in December 2020 right in the middle of the pandemic which she entitled ‘The Blessed Encounter’. She performed and ministered her songs live before a virtual audience who were greatly ministered to and gave positive comments and feedback during and after the event. Videos from the Blessed Encounter are available on her YouTube channel. Blessing is currently in the studio working on her third offering which will be another single release coming out soon.

Accolades and acknowledgements

Blessing was given a prize of a solar kit worth US$1500 for the success of Zita raJesu topping the charts on number one on ZiFM Radio for 6 consecutive weeks. The prize was sponsored by the company Voltman Solar, a major retail and wholesale supplier of renewable energy equipment and systems in Zimbabwe. Since then she has been attracting the interest of corporates, which is not an easy thing for most gospel musicians in Zimbabwe. Other corporates like the chemical and cosmetics brand Kusi Chemicals, a leading manufacturer and distributor of cleaning products, services, and equipment in Zimbabwe, have endorsed Blessing’s music and made her their brand ambassador. The endorsements have included extension of financial and logistical support to her ministry. God’s hand and favour on her ministry is seen in these major endorsements as well as numerous divine helpers supporting her music in various ways.

Other activities

Blessing is a growing adroit business entrepreneur in the beauty industry. She owns a beauty spa called B’s Nail and Beauty Bar, which aims to boost women’s confidence and selfesteem in the area of beauty. Blessing says that seeing her clients happy after a total makeover motivates her to continue improving her services in the nail and beauty business. Blessing is also a Business Development Officer for the giant media broadcaster Christ TV which has a global reach of an estimated 10 million worldwide. Outside music, work and church activities, Blessing enjoys talking to and counselling fellow women and girls in line with her goal to be an advocate for women. She aspires to be a talk show host in the near future and is in the process of writing a book.

Media links 

https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/a-song-15-years-in-the-making 

https://www.zimetro.co.zw/gospel-diva-blessing-deve-drops-new-project/

Social Media Handles 

YouTube: @Blessing Deve 

Facebook @Blessing Deve Official

Instagram @blessing_deve

Store Links 

Godsent App Buddie beats Apple Music