Alice Makaya Show refreshing

much that’s happening on my favourite channel ZBCTV.
Honestly, I watch the channel with a passion and lately I have also tried to watch Channel 2 and frankly speaking it’s one channel you don’t want to miss.
ZBCTV has transformed in the last couple of years and with the evangelical programmes airing one after the other you really think more people are seeking divine intervention in these trying times.
One of the programmes that moved me was the Alice Makaya Show. Do you remember Alice? Of course, you do. She’s the anchor on Good Morning Zimbabwe.
Well, Alice is also hosting her talk show, which focuses on lifestyle, fashion, celebrities and health, among other topical issues.
It was during the celebrity segment that I saw two radio personalities – Bridget “Bubbles” Gavanga and Davies Mugadza. One good thing about the interview was that both Bubbles and Mugadza, the Cool Mo Dee, have not been interviewed in a long time.
In fact, for some obscure reason, Bubbles and “Mr Sweetness in Yours” have been dodgy insofar as giving interviews is concerned, especially to print media.
“Bubbles” looked gorgeous in a flowery blue long dress and if I were a fashion policeman I would award her eight points on a scale of one to 10.
However, I was disturbed by Zobha, oops did I just say that? I mean Davies.
He was comfortable in the sofa clad in beige corduroy blazer that still had the label on the wrist.
Was Davies coming from clothes shopping or was he just ignorant that labels are supposed to be removed? Again as a fashion policeman I would award him zero points on fashion consciousness and seven for age appropriate.
Alice should also ask her guests pertinent questions, for instance, we would have loved to hear about Bubbles’ love life, her age and her views on marriage?
On the issue of Davies being the voice behind Dr Zobha, Alice should have asked questions that leave viewers with doubts whether or not Davies is indeed Dr Zobha. For instance, she could have investigated why Dr Zobha puts on gloves even in summer?
Some people say that Dr Zobha’s birthmark on his palm bears resemblance to Davies’.
Enough of that, I think the talk show is quite interesting although it draws much from “Redi On Mzansi” that airs on DStv’s Mzansi Magic.
The only difference is that Redi focuses on celebrities rather than health and fashion. Besides that, the Alice Makaya Show is as refreshing as the presenter is!
I have noted with keen interest the debate generated through this column especially from the previous topics, which we highlighted.
One avid reader has followed up on the last instalments about church business or precisely on “Bizarre Healing Sessions”.
I thought it would be best to share with you an email from Itai about church business and I will not add or subtract anything from it lest I be accused of pursuing an agenda.
Email of the Week
Dear Jonathan
Hope I find you well. I found your previous articles on church matters interesting especially the debate which arose after the publication of what you had observed and commented.
This is the reason why I have attached the advert which appeared in The Herald newspaper of 23 June 2011.
I am a bit confused on the Celebration Ministries International concept where it seems the church has been taken as a business with the appointment of Dr Peter Chikumba, former chief executive officer of Air Zimbabwe, as the CEO of the ministry including the Celebration Churches International.
How can a church (ministry) appoint a CEO and advertise in the local newspaper with the pictures of the founder members at the bottom of the advert?
It might sound naive to others but surely the reader is quite perplexed and would want to find out from other readers and the responsible people especially Christians with some biblical reference to the issue.
The advert showed that CMI oversee, Celebration Holdings International, Celebration Health and Celebration Education.
Where do we draw the line between the use of church monies and these other investments? Should other church funds be invested in other businesses, are the believers aware of that development and how much is channelled?
Can the church be run along the same lines as businesses?
Isn’t this development going to have some impact on some churches when it comes to taxes that are supposed to be paid to the Government?
In this case the Government might think that the churches are making a lot of money hence the need to tax them.
In this case it means taxes have to be paid but can people pay taxes twice like in the event of those who pay their tithes after paying Government taxes and also the church being taxed?
You would help if the same debate be generated or if I can get some responses from the responsible people and do this for learning purposes especially on the CEO of the ministry including the church and the advert with the founder and president of the church also included on the advert.
Regards, Itai
* * *
Itai does not need to worry on this one. Celebration Ministries uses business titles for its administrative staff, rather than the title like “Administrator” which say the Catholics will use. But the church’s accounts are well kept and audited.
The tax rules are fairly simple: if your organisation makes a profit then it is taxed; if it is non-profit making then it is not. Salaries and other personal income, regardless of whether they are paid to church or non-church people, are taxed in the PAYE system.
Things like Celebration Health, and aid-giving NGO, and Celebration Education, a non-profit outfit, do not make profits so need not be taxed.
Remember that mission hospitals and schools are run by churches, although always without profit, and it is the same for this large evangelical church.
Even the income renting out halls or churches, and most denominations do this, is almost always used to offset the costs of the church, rather than for business profit.
l Feedback: [email protected]