UK-BASED Zimbabwean student nurse and Christian preacher Pelagia Mavunga Kwashirai, popularly known as Minister Pel (pictured), in her circles, is using technology for all the good reasons.

Minister Pel’s initiative is to use internet-based platforms to uplift souls and help them achieve their dreams despite having challenged backgrounds,

“Anchored Gospel Community Doncaster (AGCDONCASTER) is a social media platform where successful gospel artistes, preachers, entrepreneurs and authors, among others, uplift, educate and empower those who aspire to follow their paths," she said.

“I have always had a passion for giving and helping those who are less privileged. This passion was embedded in me by my mother Reverend Auxilia Mandizha Mavunga and deceased father Eric William Mavunga. In April 2020, I started feeling the push to support young gifted and talented people in gospel music.”

Minister Pel, who is married to “King Charles” Kwashirai, founded AGCDONCASTER at the height of Covid-19’s first wave in an effort to bring hope and relief to the haunted world.

She said ever since its inception, the platform had received testimonies of its positive impact on people, making her connect with her passion for “helping and supporting young, passionate, and dedicated people in fulfilling their calling and purpose in music”.

AGCDONCASTER is working with six artistes, who are set to announce their arrival in showbiz through a livestream launch on the AGCDONCATER Facebook page among some of its online platforms next month.

These are largely picked through their excelling performances at the competitions that are also judged by luminant personalities such as Obert Mazivisa, Mkhululi Bhebhe, Olinda Marowa and South Africa’s Zama Msani.

The other participant was discovered from Bulawayo-based Eagle Life Assembly .

he inaugural competition held in May last year was won by Bulawayo-based Nkosi Herman Nyoni, who scooped a recording deal for a single track.

Following public demand, AGCDONCASTER held its second music fiesta in

June last year with Zimbabwean entry participants based across the globe coming in for the competition that was also judged by renowned personalities from different nationalities.

Natsisai Taaliah Mudzamiri and Diana Nyoni from Bulawayo as well as Harare’s Rumbidzai Mundeta were the local winners while United Arab Emirates Dubai-based Rufaro Nicole Nyathi was the diaspora winner.

The lucky winners, through their recording deal prizes, released their songs in October last year via digital platforms where they can also be accessed.

Minister Pel and her team also ran the November 2020 AGCDONCASTER Christmas competition where six budding gospel musicians across the gender line got the financial and logistical support to record their maiden singles.

These tracks are set for a grand online release next month. These include Tadisa Matema (Covered), Cristabel Zvakavapano (Ufanelwe), Tanaka Kachembere (I

Will Trust You), Perssy Makazah (Zuva Rashe), Kelvin Oscar (Makanaka Jesu) and Sakhile Sibanda (Date With My King).

“AGCDONCASTER is also supporting a charity in Zimbabwe at Domboshava called Life Peace and Hope founded by Reverend Auxilia Mandizha. We support orphans, widows, and the less privileged by paying for their school fees and providing them with uniforms and essentials. Although our support is impactful, it is not enough to cover all the expenses and things required to sustain their needs. We are therefore appealing to everyone to help us support them through us or directly to them on the details below,” said Minister Mel. She thanked her husband, church and colleagues for supporting her dreams of holding a gospel music competition parallel to the X-Factor, a British reality television music competition to find new singing talent, and reaching out to more than 1 000 young artistes across Africa.

Minister Pel also thanked her mother, in-laws Prophet Dr Blessing Samuel and Prophetess Shemeriah Chiza of Eagle Life Assembly FIG in Bulawayo, Archbishop Dr Asa and Apostle Mavis Gurupira of Faith in God Ministries International for the continuous spiritual and resource support for AFG’s cause.