Music, Sports and Faith Collide at Harare Festival

Zimbabwe’s Love Zimbabwe Festival (Sept 26–28) brings music, sports and faith together at Highfield’s Zimbabwe Grounds (image source)

Zimbabwe is set to host one of its largest interdenominational Christian gatherings, the Love Zimbabwe Festival, ending today at the Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield, Harare. Organized by the Luis Palau Association in partnership with major church mother bodies, the event unites music, sports and faith under the leadership of international evangelist Andrew Palau.

The festival is endorsed by the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, the Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches. In a press briefing, Father Johanes Maseko of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference said the gathering will deliver a message of hope amid economic challenges. “This festival is our embrace of the nation in love and unity,” he said.

“There is no rivalry in the proclamation of the Gospel, only a message of hope to everyone,”— Father Johanes Maseko

Thousands of believers are expected to attend free worship services, concert performances and sports outreach programs. Nigerian gospel artist Ada Ehi will headline the music lineup, joined by Zimbabwean acts Michael Mahendere, Janet Manyowa and Joyous Praise. Attendees can also participate in community soccer matches, action sports exhibitions and a children’s fun zone designed to engage families.

Community outreach forms a core part of the festival. Organizers have scheduled visits to orphanages, prisons and schools across Harare, distributing food parcels and performing friendship evangelism training. A dedicated “Festival Outreach” team will use WhatsApp groups and radio spots to dispel misconceptions—such as the belief that injections or rituals are required for salvation—and to underline that participation is open to all denominations.

The Love Zimbabwe Festival builds on Zimbabwe’s rich history of mass crusades, dating back to the 1970s when faith gatherings served as both spiritual revival and community solidarity during liberation struggles. Today’s festival addresses new challenges: youth unemployment, substance abuse and migration. Bishop Mavis Gurupira of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches noted that engaging young people through sports and music can “redirect energy toward positive transformation.”

Logistics and security have been coordinated with Harare City Council, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and local health services. Organizers emphasize that health screenings and sanitation measures will be in place, reflecting lessons learned from past large-scale events. Event volunteers will wear distinct green badges to assist attendees with seating, directions and medical referrals.

As the festival approaches, ticketing has shifted entirely online to manage crowd flow and minimize queuing. Free transport shuttles will operate from Mbare, Chitungwiza and Budiriro to the Zimbabwe Grounds each morning and evening. The festival’s official website provides schedules, artist profiles and volunteer registration details.

Next week’s gathering will culminate in a unified worship service on Sunday, September 28, featuring a call to action for social justice initiatives across Zimbabwe. Organizers hope the festival will spark ongoing partnerships between churches, youth organizations and civic leaders to address pressing social issues.