The Observer Issue 15 | Page 2

2 - 2 March 2014 - The Observer Makandiwa, Angel fake prophets? P Nonse n s e! BARNABAS THONDHLANA olitics of the church have taken center stage in Zimbabwe amid reports a group of local pastors have roped in their Ghanaian counterparts to rubbish colleagues in the faith. Already, the country is awash with reports that a delegation of pastors from Ghana has sought an audience with President Mugabe to expose United Family International Church (UFIC) founder Emmanuel Makandiwa, and his partner, Spirit Embassy leader Uebert Mudzanire or Angel, to “expose” them. It is believed a local group of Christian leaders are mediating for the West African based pastors, who hail mainly from the twin cities of Sekondi-Takoradi to be granted audience with President Mugabe. Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa has described the group of pastors accusing him of being a trickster who uses occult powers to deceive and blind his followers are “agents of the devil”. The group of local pastors have reportedly fallen out with Makandiwa and Mudzanire’s spiritual father, one Victor Kusi Boateng also from Ghana. They now want to implore President Mugabe to shut down UFIC and have its key leaders arrested, for trickery and evil practices. The Ghanaians, according a report in a little-known publication, The Telescope News, “have evidence against Makandiwa and Spirit Embassy, which they will present to Mugabe”. Initially Makandiwa and UFIC had been their primary target, the inclusion of Mudzanire’s ministry, came after his wife Beverly Angel requested the First Lady Grace Mugabe, to have Mudzanire grace the occasion with prayer. According to The Telescope News, the Ghanaian pastors saw this as a “fire-fighting attempt” by Mudzanire to play politics with the hope of escaping the sword of Damocles, now hovering above his head and that of Makandiwa. “All is set and we are coming to Harare in May,” said Lawrence Ajoba, the pastor leading the Ghanaian delegation from Kumasi, last week. “We shall present not just facts, but evidence as well to His Excellency President Robert Mugabe, about the evil behind UFIC and Spirit Embassy. Our colleagues in Zimbabwe have settled for May, because the president recently had his birthday and is committed in March with his daughter’s wedding. April was also not possible because of Zimbabwe’s Independence celebrations. “They can call us devils but this is the end of the road. An act of God is going to destroy Makandiwa’s hyped Chitungwiza church, that is why they can’t have it finished because of the occultic powers behind. As for the Spirit Embassy young man, poverty is going to stalk him. Remember all this, because it’s happening soon.” Makandiwa recently made news when he donated US$10 000 to Mugabe’s daughter, Bona, presented at her bridal party recently. Mudzanire’s wife on the other hand, has reportedly been making visits to the First Lady’s orphanage in Mazowe, in a bid to bond with the Mugabes and hopefully receive clemency, when the cat is out of the bag. Prophet Angel recently made news when he pledged allegiance to Zanu PF. Said Pastor Prime Kufakunesu, spokesman for Prophet Makandiwa: “Everyone wants to attract attention with the name of Prophet Makandiwa like what this group of pastors from Ghana is doing. Their allegations that he uses occult powers and their threats to report him to President Mugabe are baseless. “On what ground did they want to convict him because here in Zimbabwe we even have registered healers who use supernatural powers to heal. These pastors are agents of the devil. If they want they can come to face Prophet Makandiwa since he has an open invitation to anyone who dares challenges him,” he said. In response, Ajoba said they had no time to waste in meeting Makandiwa, because: “We do not deal with deliberate agents of perdition. 2014 is the year in which all evildoers are going to be exposed, whether they boast of being big brands or not. Remember that Titanic engineer, who said God could not sink their unsinkable ship. Makandiwa and Angel’s iceberg is now at their doorsteps.” Pastor Kufakunesu said the unfounded allegations which the church’s critics believes can affect the prophet’s growing ministry were a “storm in a tea cup”. He said Makandiwa was too big a brand to be brought down by anyone. Ajoba told reporters that Kusi Boateng is the kingmaker behind Makandiwa, and others whom he allegedly acquires “occultic powers and Voodoo” on their behalf from a popular fetish priest also from his nativ e called, Nana Kwaku Bonsam. The fetish priest is on record saying that he has helped over 1700 pastors across the African continent with powers to prosper and grow their churches, including those from Zimbabwe. “People in Zimbabwe are being bamboozled and taken for a ride by Makandiwa,” said Ajoba. “We hear he was given occultic charms and power to perform bizarre miracles and make his church grow, and because the whole thing is evil and spiritual one cannot present tangible evidence, that is why false prophets get away with it. We thank God, because time will always act as revealers. “In the case of Makandiwa, those who join his church are blinded and will find it difficult to leave, because their spirits have been trapped. Usually people who do this, bring coffins inside the church with real dead bodies, but the simple human eye cannot see them, because it is devilish. “Churches of this nature can have up to three coffins, displayed inside at every corner, and they remain there as powers are renewed. In reality ritual killing would have occurred. Only through the Holy Spirit’s special gifts can one’s eyes be opened to see into the mysterious supernatural realm. It is only God who reveals secrets, and we believe, the time is up for fake prophets in Africa,” Ajoba said.■ Advertise in The Observer Call 0772 964428, email: [email protected], facebook: TheObserverZim