Gospel music is one industry in the country that demands seriousness such that when one is caught in controversy, they might as well kiss goodbye to it.

There are gospel singers who started well and had a bright future but once they had their names muddled in controversy, they failed to rise again.

The country will remember the talent of Lilongwe-based musician Dunstan Kapitapita who rocked households with his gospel vibes but has sadly fallen by the wayside.

There are other equally gifted gospel musicians who have been caught in controversy but have had difficulties to bounce back, vibrant singers like George Mkandawire who has been out for sometime but now he has realised that he cannot hide anymore.

Some of these musicians can borrow a leaf from one Thocco Katimba, who was rocked in controversy last year and was even arrested in Mchinji.

To some, this might have signalled the end of the world for the singer but they were wrong, Katimba did not burry his head in the sand like the proverbial ostrich; what he did was to accept he had fallen and picked himself up to start a new chapter.

And what a way to bounce back for the soft-spoken musician than release a song that currently tops the charts for both gospel and secular music.

His songs, from his recently launched fourth album Ndidzaimabe, led by the hit 'Tagwiranji,' are dominating the charts in the local radio stations.

He is dominating the sales not only for gospel but even secular.

Katimba surprised even himself when he packed Robins Park in Blantyre during his launch.

But what is his secret?

"I don't think I have any secret. I just owe this to God. I made a mistake but I humbled myself. I did not run away nor did I hide. When you humble yourself God elevates you and that's what he has just done," says the singer.

He adds that he accepted his shortfalls to God and his fans and apologised for he had cheated them.

"I know they suffered because of what happened to me. It's a principal of Christianity, when you confess your sins, God is faithful and loving to forgive and take you back in his arms. In short, let me say that the word sorry which came from deep down my honest and broken heart meant a lot to God and the people who love my music," he says.

The Kasungu native said God gave him a second chance and that he decided to take it.

"I am so grateful that God has raised me to a level I never thought I would be. He is indeed a God of second chances. Let all the glory be to God for making this possible to me," he says.

So far his album is reported to have sold over 15,000 CDs and over 75,000 audio tapes since its release early March.

To him, he has not done better than his fellow gospel musicians, but he believes the best medicine to winning back support when you have erred is to apologise.

"It doesn't do any harm at all. I, for one, just surrendered everything to God for his grace is always sufficient. He gave me strength when I couldn't even move my foot and thought everything was lost," explains Katimba.

With all that said, he still feels his arrest on June 8 last year, affected him and that some fans stopped listening to his songs.

"I know many people stopped loving my music and this makes me cry at times. On the other hand, I thank God for that situation because I have known people and seen the other side of life. This also taught me a number of lessons; I've known my true friends and painfully learnt from my mistakes," laments the musician.

Although he sounds to be at the best of his career with his current album, Katimba still rates Werenga Madalitso Ako as his best effort as it is the album which made him a name and was the top selling gospel album of 2010.

With many gospel artists only restricting themselves to vocals and not playing instruments, Katimba boasts that he plays the piano and keyboard.

"I am not only a vocalist. People should know that I played the keys and melodies in my new album and to show my seriousness in music, I have my own studio TK Records," he says.

So what is unique in his songs and how does he go about his compositions?

"I simply take my time when composing songs; for a start I do a bit of research to make my messages timely. I also simply relate my songs to day to day living experiences to a Christian life. This makes it very easy for people to understand better," Katimba says.

He, however, says despite all this he still does not know why people love his music.

Surprisingly, the singer in all his four albums, has never collaborated with any gospel artist but would love to do that next, probably working with the likes of Ethel Kamwendo-Banda, Favoured Sisters and Ndirande Anglican Voices' Dennis Kalimbe.

He believes he still has a long way to go and will consider himself successful when he gets to release over 10 top-selling albums.

"All I will continue to do is to respect my fans because they are the ones who have put me here. The massive audience at my shows puzzles me but what can I say more than 'thank you'. I don't take that for granted," he says.