Renowned gospel musician Tembalami has refuted claims that popular gospel choir Zimpraise had become a hub for sexual abuse of young girls.
Tembalami Dismisses Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Zimpraise
Speaking out on the issue, the Gore Rino hitmaker acknowledged that romantic relationships did occur among choir members but insisted they should not be mischaracterised as abuse.
“Zimpraise had grown into a choir of about 100 young people, none of whom were married, so relationships were bound to happen,” he said. “When the allegations began, I was no longer part of the group—I was pursuing a solo career. There was new leadership at the time, and I wouldn’t categorise what happened as abuse.”
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Tembalami emphasised that it’s important to distinguish between consensual relationships among adults and abuse, which implies coercion, manipulation, or exploitation. “What happened was not institutional misconduct. These were relationships between young adults, which are quite natural in such settings,” he added.
From Collaboration to Choir: The Origins of Zimpraise
In shedding light on Zimpraise’s evolution, Tembalami took a moment to reflect on the group’s humble beginnings. The choir was formed in 2006 by Macdonald Chidavayenzi, popularly known as Macdee, who envisioned Zimpraise as a gospel music compilation project. The aim was to use music as a tool for evangelism, especially in schools.
“Macdee came to me, Sabastian Magacha, Trevor Dongo, Pastor G, Knox, Bethany Pasinawako, and Carol, sharing his vision. At the time, we were all independent musicians who contributed to a project more than an organised choir.”
Initially, the group was simply a collective of solo gospel artists contributing songs for a joint album. But after two successful projects, Tembalami suggested turning the collaboration into a more recognisable brand — a full-time choir that could carry the Zimpraise message forward.
That’s when Joseph Madziyire, now Zimpraise’s CEO, entered the picture. Having recently returned from Australia, Joseph brought a new energy and a vision for growth that would eventually propel the group to national and international fame.
“Joseph had just come back, and we held our first big concert at 7Arts Theatre in Harare. That was the turning point—we started pushing the choir as the face of Zimpraise,” Tembalami said.
Leadership Shift and Commercialization
As the choir grew in popularity, so did its structure. Tembalami pointed out a shift in direction after Joseph took on a more prominent role. While Macdee was more focused on studio production, Joseph emphasised live performances, tours, and formal leadership roles.
“We didn’t have titles before, but Joseph brought structure. His approach was more event-orientated, and he helped commercialise the brand in ways we hadn’t thought of before,” Tembalami noted.
Despite this transition not being entirely smooth, the changes laid the groundwork for Zimpraise to become one of the most iconic gospel brands in Southern Africa.
Zimpraise at 20: A Legacy in Motion
Now celebrating 20 years of ministry, Zimpraise is on a global tour, marking two decades of uplifting gospel music, ministry, and cultural exchange. The group has performed across Africa and in diaspora communities abroad, sharing Zimbabwean gospel with the world.
Tembalami’s response comes not only as a defence of the choir’s integrity but also as a reminder of how far the group has come. From a small collective of musicians to a professional choir with international reach, Zimpraise’s journey has not been without its challenges — but it has remained rooted in purpose.
As the world tour continues, Tembalami hopes the group’s impact will not be overshadowed by controversy, especially when those claims lack evidence.
“We may not have been perfect, but we stood for something. And Zimpraise continues to be a platform that changes lives.”
