Vapostori attacking ZBC camera person (photo: Newsday).

ELEVEN members of the Johanne Masowe weChishanhu church who beat up police officers in May have been sentenced to four years in jail.

Harare magistrate Tendai Mahwe acquitted the other 26 apostolic sect members who were jointly charged with their colleagues on charges of public violence.

The Vapositori members assaulted police officers, journalists and leaders of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) at their Budiriro shrine in May after they attempted to ban the church.

In jailing the 11 others, the court ruled that the group had put the reputation of their church at stake.

“A mob assaulting someone is very dangerous and can lead to loss of life. You are church people and your conduct put religion into disrepute. You assaulted police officers clad in uniform; there is need for courts to send the right message,” Mahwe said.

“The message should be that, lawlessness is not allowed in this country. A lengthy term of imprisonment is therefore appropriate to show that such acts are abhorrent.”

After the sentence, the shell-shocked group looked bewildered in the dock, pondering over their next move while family members who were in the public gallery could not help but stare vacantly at the magistrate.

The sect members were on trial after turning their Budiriro shrine into a war zone on May 30. The attack came after ACCZ officials, led by Johannes Ndanga, banned the church accusing it of violating children’s rights by denying them access to education.

“In assessing sentence I took into account that all of you are first offenders and parents with responsibilities.

“However, I also took into account that you assaulted ACCZ delegates, journalists and police officers using sticks and stones,” Mahwe said in his judgement.

Mahwe said photographs produced in court positively identified some of the accused while in the act.

The incarcerated persons are; Kudzanayi Kusekwa, 31, Cabson Chandaona, 43, Takavengwa Gwenzi, 46, Tichafa Madyegora, 41, Johanes Makumbe, 39, Ndumiso Moyo, 33, and Alexio Kanhema, 37), Clement Chimutso, 47, Madzimure Madzimure, 36, Charles Matanga, 42 and Darlington Mambayo, 46.

During the trial, one of the accused, Gwenzi, claimed they were being victimised as part of the ongoing Zanu PF factional fights after they declined to back Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

See related reading:

Vapostori Church members attacked over police attack 

Vapostori allege political persecution as trial opens 

Omega Fire Ministries Zimbabwe
Date: November, 19-20
Time: 5pm- 9pm
Venue: City Sports Centre, Harare
Speaker: Apostle (Prof) Johnson Suleman
Hosts: Pastor Paul & Mama Christabel Adogamhe
Contact: +263 783 917 665, +263 735 305 312, +263 774 900 568.
Email: ofmfestivalofmiracles@gmail.com

Public Discussion

Date: November 17

Place: Catholic Center next to the Cathedral in Harare

Topic: Prophets and Prophecies Today: genuine worship or signs of the end times

Speakers: Fr Fanuel Magwidi OFM (Roman Catholic priest and Scripture scholar), Rev Maxwell Cedric from Redemption Faith Ministries, Prophet C Chaku from Triumphant Ministries International

Time: 17:15 – 19:00

President Robert Mugabe at the weekend while burying his   nephew Takudzwa Wesley Goronga in Marondera blasted mushrooming churches which he described as being led by some ‘fly by night’ pastors who are  robbing desperate people of their hard earned churches.

Mugabe’s comments followed an over 35 000 crowed which was pulled by the head of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries Walter Magaya, at his traditional Waterfalls venue in Harare two weeks ago.

There are several such churches which have mashroomed throughout the country chief amoung them United Family International Church led by  prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa and Spirit Embassy headed by  prophet Uebert Angels.ee

These churches have been, however, criticized for being elitists and rob desperate followers of their money through giving prophecies of success in life to those who would have either bought anointing oil and other items they will be selling during the time they will be preaching.

Angels boasts of his wealth whenever he addresses his congregates, last year at the Midlands State University in Gweru the youthful prophet splashed thousands of dollars to students and claimed that he had some properties in Britain and America.

“We are aware of these fly by night pastors whose churches are bent on fundraising instead of preaching the gospel and looking after the spiritual needs of the people,”said President Robert Mugabe, “The President said pastors were supposed to unite families ‘and spiritual nourishment and truthful honest spiritual leaders’ who are different from some ‘fly by night’ pastors who have mushroomed.”

Mugabe’s attacks on the churches also followed a prophecy by United Family International Church leader prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa which was also backed by prophet Magaya last month that mass protests would result in bloodshed.

The prophecy came at a time the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai and the civil society had announced that they were going to stage nationwide protests against government forcing it to improve the state of the country’s economy.

Mugabe said the death of his nephew was a ‘mystery’ and accused foreign schools of exposing to the use of ‘some negative habits such as doing drugs’.

The late Takudzwa was a final year student at Monash University in South Africa and was found dead in a wardrobe in his room at the institution after he had gone missing for almost a week.

See related reading:

Angel descends on MSU, splashes money 

Gospel music lovers are in for a treat at the Apostolic Faith Church (AFM) gospel gala extravaganza slated for November 28.

The AFM church will first hold a national business conference, which will be hosted, by the AFM business forum.

Speakers that will speak at the conference include Douglas Mboweni, Econet’s Chief Executive and Dr Aspher Madziyire AFM president.

According to the advertised line-up, there will be two invited guests from South Africa, DR D. Molape and Dr F. Chikane.

After the business conference Zimpraise, Baba namai Charamba, Sebastian Magacha and Takesure Zamah, will entertain music lovers. Rising gospel artist, Mathias Mhere and Shiloh praise will also perform at the gospel gala extravaganza.

Rudo Muzariri a member of AFM said that it was important that churches also train followers on business issues to ensure their survival. “I hope the tickets will be affordable so that many people are able to attend the business conference. We need to be equipped with business skills seeing that in Zimbabwe companies and Industries is closing at an alarming rate, Muzariri said.

Abel Muchemwa from Greendale also complemented the efforts of the AFM but said it should be a conference to empower Zimbabweans and not to make super profits.

Eleven people were killed while many others sustained serious injuries in a stampede after Walter Magaya’s Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries crusade at Mbizo Stadium.

Some of the people died in the stadium in the central town of Kwekwe, while others were declared dead on arrival in hospital, it was reported.

The stampede occurred as thousands of worshippers rushed to leave after the service by popular Pentecostal preacher Walter Magaya who was reported to have drawn over 300 00 people at an all nights prayer in Harare

Magaya is known for healings and miracles. Some witnesses accused the police of blocking most of the stadium exits and then firing tear gas as people battled to get through the only one left open.

The police have denied firing tear gas.

Mr Magaya, head of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries, told a local newspaper that when he learnt of the deaths, it was “the saddest moment of my life”.

With the names of the 11 victims that perished during the stampede at the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries (PHD), many people have expressed shock at the loss of live at a church.

Among those who perished is Juliet Mawere who was 55 and it was her first time at Walter Magaya’s church. Others include Tendai Bafana (9), Winnie Chikanda (12), Ian Nkomo (40), Tamuka Chivasa (11), Rachel Zvinei (16), Cynthia Jane Katsholo (47) all from Mbizo suburb. Albert Ndure (13) and Bridget Mukarati (34) from Gweru and Shadreck Gumisidza Kurebwa, (59) and Grace Gwinji from Redcliff also died at the PHD service.

The police who were initially accused of using teargas at the overcrowded venue have denied the allegations insisting that a gas stove that was used by a businessman providing food at the church meeting burst.

Some families have urged the authorities to investigate the cause of the tragic loss of life.Speaking to RealZim, Munyaradzi Mavedzenge said that the church had erred in using a venue that was too small and confined. “Magaya knows that a lot of people come to his healing services in search of miracles and to have other social problems addressed. He should have used an open venue. Over 30 000 people in a venue that holds about 7 000 is very wrong,” he said

Mabel Makandidii who lost a friend said she was shocked by the death. “Imagine people going to church for deliverance, healing and salvation they come back in boxes. We only pray that their souls rest in peace,” she said

John Hove said the matter should be investigated to ensure that this tragic accident does not happen again.

PHD gave the eleven families that lost their relatives a thousand dollars each.

For this week alone, I have heard of at least two people that have died after stopping taking antiretroviral drugs after spiritual healing.

While Health and Child Care minister David Parirenyatwa has warned prophets to desist from ordering HIV-positive people and those suffering from other ailments like diabetes to stop taking drugs, saying it was dangerous, deaths reports from community members show that prophets still claim to cure HIV/Aids and other chronic illness.

Mabel Chazunguza, from Hatcliffe extension who claims to have lost a neighbor who died after attending a church in Harare where they were encouraged to stop taking the antiretroviral drugs in the belief that God had healed them said church leaders have to save life.

“Its sad that despite advice that people should continue to take their life saving drugs after spiritual healing, some people are not, as they only take the word of their healers. I am urging all Christians to go for re-tests in the event of spiritual healing to ensure that they are truly healed.”

David Magura a Catholic said that there was nothing that stops church leaders who claim to heal HIV/Aids to urge their followers to get re-tested before claimimg that they are HIV/Aids free. “The bible is clear that all spirits should be tested and going for an HIV/Aids re-test is testing the spirit,” he said.

Tendai Gava who also claims to have lost a relative whom he said his CD4 count dropped to 20 after stopping taking ARV drugs after another church healing session said, “It’s just wrong and bad advice and there should be mechanisms to hold these people accountable who tell these sick people that God has healed them of HIV/Aids without taking them to testing centers to ascertain that they are truly free of the virus.”

Parirenyatwa earlier this year   urged Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi to come up with legal instruments to curb the practice as it could result in many deaths.

“It is a very bad practice that prophets and churches are saying they can cure people with holy water or oil,” Parirenyatwa is quoted in the media to have said.

“We know that the HIV virus cannot be removed through prayer and that it needs medicines. Even medicines do not cure HIV, but they only suppress the multiplication of the virus. That is why one needs to take ARVs for life.”

He said it was high time Mohadi criminalised the antics by false prophets.

“It is good to pray when a person is sick, but prayer needs to be complemented by medicines, otherwise if people are told to stop taking medicines we might experience many deaths,” Parirenyatwa said.

Popular preachers Walter Magaya, leader of Prophetic Healing Deliverance Ministries, Emmanuel Makandiwa (United Family International Church), TB Joshua of Synagogue Church of All Nations and other Pentecostal churches were some of the organisations known for dishing out holy oil to their followers to allegedly cure various ailments.

Many apostolic organisations in the country were also known to distribute “holy water” (muteuro) to their followers, which were said to cure many ailments including HIV and Aids.

The unrelenting economic crises in most African states have created a fertile ground for the exploitation of gullible yet innocent people who, instead of focusing on the God of men, are focusing on the ‘men of GOD.’ 

Part of the 350 000 people from Zimbabwe and across who attended PHD’s all night prayer in Harare recently (photo: M Chibaya)

DAYS after the deaths of eleven people in a stampede at the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance ministries (PHD) crusade at Mbizo Stadium in Kwekwe, there are still no established facts to make way for an inquest as provided for by the law in any violent death.

The eleven people died painful deaths being trampled upon by hundreds of feet. A loss of eleven souls is no child-play and the anger that has followed the tragedy is understandable. Blame continues to be thrown around but what remains clear is that the sad occurrence might not be the last if no meaningful investigations and preventive action is taken in future.

What further intensifies the conundrum is the fact that the police have distanced themselves from an earlier report suggesting that they had fired teargas resulting in the commotion. Such disasters are, understandably, synonymous with teargas commotion but questions naturally follow given the circumstances. We all remain at a loss as to what triggered the deaths of these innocent souls.

This disaster comes barely two months after scores of South Africans and Zimbabweans lost their lives in Nigeria at the collapse of a building belonging to TB Joshua’s church. In Kwekwe, the stadium which, supposedly, has a carrying capacity of 7 000 was packed to the brim, with about 15 000 people having converged in the hope of receiving miracles.

The unrelenting economic crises in most African states have created a fertile ground for the exploitation of gullible yet innocent people who, instead of focusing on the God of men, are focusing on the ‘men of GOD.’ Desperation has turned people to seek outrageous solutions as they seek to ameliorate the suffering.

Despite the huge hopes placed on prosperity and prophetic movements, results on the ground show that this manipulative gospel only enriches its founders and those who seat at the top echelons of these supremely organized institutions.

Does it not provoke anger that people are made to believe that they are suffering because of some mythical curse in their lives and that they have to pay a sacrifice to be ‘delivered’? One Pastor Neshamba wrote, “The marl performance of economies has formed a formidable partnership with these prosperity and miracle churches.” Multitudes which throng these churches are longsuffering people drawn by the lure of miracles. One frequently hears of miracle-jobs, miracle-money and even miracle-babies which have persuaded even the most devout Christians to leave their traditional churches.

In an apparent show of concern, even the President recently highlighted the need for Zimbabweans to be wary of churches motivated by avarice which are marked by an emphasis on wealth. There is a clear adulteration of the Gospel seen through a myopic focus on miracles; scarcely do these organizations teach people of salvation and the Christ’s Second Coming.

The same churches have continued to promise the all-believing laity of a never-coming prosperity: “The Lord is setting Zimbabwe free” we have heard. “Divine solutions are coming and gold will be picked from the ground,” some have said. Andyet the sobering truth, which is the opposite of such promises, is bare for all to see.

Sometime in April, during the famed Judgment Night, it was prophesied that Zimbabwe was set for economic boom. PHD also affirmed this position at its record all-night prayer. But the stinging truth must be told: God never intended miracles to replace the natural order of things. God’s design is that a woman carries pregnancy for nine months. God’s design is that people should work for a living. God’s design is that a human being, whether good or evil, will, someday, fall sick and die; these are natural processes set up by the Creator himself after the fall of man.

Today, we have youths whose minds have been poisoned to think that money will visit their pockets while they sit in a stadium ;we have people who believe that simply because someone clad in a shiny suit claims that the economy will boom, it shall be so. We have people willing to subject themselves to innate dangers in foreign lands in the belief that some miracle will change their lives. To this end, sad to say, in a space of two months we have lost many souls. And yet the economy remains in a tailspin; a glance at the country’s GDP tells a story of an economy gasping for breath.

It remains sad and paradoxical that while people are willing to give everything they have in pursuit of miracles they are, instead, meeting with death. True worship, my dear friends, is not about miracles or seeking wealth but seeking God in truth and spirit (Matt 6:33).

Gweru Bishop, Xavier Munyongani, has criticised Catholic professionals and public officials who engage in corrupt activities that have destroyed the Zimbabwean economy and societal values.
He was addressing a group of Catholic professionals who were gathered at the cathedral in Gweru over the last weekend for the launch of the Gweru chapter of the Catholic Professionals Network of Zimbabwe (CPNZ).

He also challenged the government and the President, Cde Robert Mugabe, to allow his faith to direct his work.

“When I was in Rome recently, the President and his wife were also in Rome for the beautification of Pope Paul IV. The whole world (seeing that), gets the impression that he is a very holy man, brought up by the Jesuits. When you tell other people that he is the same man presiding over our misery, they may dismiss you as someone who is ungrateful. But if his faith is guiding him, then it should be seen in the way he leads us.

Xavier Munyongani, Bishop of the Diocese of Gweru

“Julius Nyerere (former Tanzania president), at Independence in 1980 told him that you have inherited a  jewel, if you run this country it is going to be a jewel of Africa. And Julius Nyerere is about to be made a saint from Africa.”

For the former President, Nyerere, as a public servant and professional, allowed his faith to direct his life and actions, including the way he ran his family and country.

The Bishop said corruption affects everyone in society, including innocent children. He cited the recent leaks that affected the public examinations board, and forcing innocent students who had spent precious time studying and preparing for their exams, now, to endure more anxious moments as they to re-seat the leaked papers.

He challenged Catholic professionals wherever they work to stand up against corruption and make a difference, warning them as well that they will always face resistance but they should neither withdraw nor surrender because God is always on the side of those who do well.

“You will always face public resistance when you want to be principled. People may jeer or reject you altogether, but you have to be strong and steadfast.

“It is possible to change the world even when you are in the minority. Remember the story of slavery and how it was abolished? It took the extraordinary efforts of one man, William Wilberforce to turn the world against slavery. That is still possible today. We need Catholic professionals who are grounded in principle, and through their actions, want to change the world for the better.”

Fundraising:  Catholic Annual Youth Awards (CAYA)

Date :Saturday 6 December 2014

Venue: St Francis of Assisi ,Waterfalls Harare

Contact: Ashley Mwanza 0773 576 721/0738 335 650

He has been labled Charles Charamba copyacat after releasing an album “Zvakagara Zvakadaro” that had similarities with that of the top gospel musician.

Save for different in wording the voice of Trymore Bande and the beats are very similar prompting Charamba to report Bande to the police for fraud.

Recently Charamba released a Jazz album “WeNazaretha” that has recived a lukeworm response.

Barely a month after the release Bande has dropped his second album “ZvaMwari” that will be released tonight.

However, Bande has gone a notch up and worked on his forthcoming eight-track album which he believes is going to earn him a name in the gospel circles.

In an interview Bande was very elated to announce his return.

“I would like to thank the Almighty for blessing me so that I could come up with my fifth album. It was never easy since financial constrains were hindering progress,” he said.

He said by coming up with the title “ZvaMwari” tried to capture the imagination of many and convey the message that there is nothing that can surpass the omnipotence of God.

“In life everything that one does should put God first since with Him nothing is impossible. Like in my album each song links everything to the Father,” said the soft-spoken Bande.

On being a Charamba copycat, Bande said voices are God-given and it could be attributed to the love of one’s works.

“I could neither disagree nor agree that I copied Pastor Charamba only people are the best judges though what I believe is that God gives people voices that could resemble each other.

“But I would say maybe it is because I envy Pastor Charamba and his music and our relationship is not sour since we are all doing the same job of preaching the Word,” he said.

Bande said he knows quite well that mainstream gospel is a cut-throat competition and promised to fight hard to be recognised.

“My only prayer is for God to give me strength to fight on and produce music that is appealing and unique to all,” said Bande.

Like any other musicians, Bande is finding the going getting tougher in terms is shows and prays that one day these days things will work to his advantage.

The album, which is being recorded and produced by renowned producer Charles Ayibeki, is likely to give gospel lovers an early Christmas treat.

And some of the tracks to look forward to include “Ngwarira”, “Ngoma Ndiyo Ndiyo”, “Ndinobatwa neHope”, “Kusateerera” and “Zvenyu Makarangarirwa”.

Bande, who ventured into music and entered the studio into the same year, has four albums up his sleeve, the first being “Old and New Testament”, “Discover to Recover” (2008), “The Scriptures” (2010) and “Zvakagara Zvakadaro” (2013).

A Gweru based pastor with Ambassador Christ Church has been arraigned before the Gweru courts on allegations of raping a neighbour’s 11 year old daughter.

Shepherd Sande, aged 53, allegedly dragged the juvenile to his bedroom and raped her on two occasions.

Sande, from Woodlands Park, Gweru, appeared before magistrate, Judith Taruvinga who remanded him in custody to the 8th of December for trial.

The court heard that on a date unknown to the prosecutor but in August this year at around 1pm, the accused called the girl to his house as he wanted her to buy airtime for him.

When the juvenile returned, Sande told her to put the airtime in the dining room but later followed, dragged her to his bedroom before raping her once.

Further allegations are that in the same month, Sande saw the girl going to the nearby shops to buy bread and then gave her money to also bring him bread.

Upon her return, Sande allegedly led her to his bedroom where he raped her again.

When Sande made attempts to rape the girl on the third occasion, she refused and told her mother about the ordeal, leading to his arrest.

Joice Mujuru, who was sacked as vice President on Tuesday, having also been removed from the same position in the revolutionary party at its just ended five day elective congress in Harare last week, says she is a ” true Christian” and does not believe in “killing”.

Ahead of the elective congress which was attended by about 12000 delegates, First Lady Grace Mugabe- a former typist had stayed out of politics until her 49th birthday in July-launched systematic and scathing attacks on Mujuru- long tipped to take over as Zimbabwe’s leader – of incompetence, corruption, extortion and trying to topple the President-allegations she denies.

Speaking in an interview the former vice president Mujuru told the Voice of America that she was not given a chance to explain herself on the allegations.

“Mind you I am a Christian, a true Christian. I don’t believe in killing, I don’t believe in hating, I don’t believe in making somebody suffer. It’s politicking; these are some of the things that were started towards Congress,” Mujuru said.

Mujuru said she is not in a position to organise anybody to do such harm to anyone.

“Mind you, I have been a patron of the African Christian Council of Zimbabwe, churches of Zimbabwe which has over 700 churches,” she said.

She added: “And for such a person to be a patron to such a humongous organization, you forget about them and you go back and start even practicing witchcraft, you start even thinking about killing somebody, even to assassinate a sitting head of State, it’s unheard of, it’s uncalled for, for what purpose – just me a poor widow. I can’t do that.

“I’m surprised, and I even spoke about infiltration that has come in our party, I spoke about this in February if not March early this year when I went to address women in Chinhoyi. But nobody took time to ask me what I had discovered or what I had in mind or what I had seen,” Mujuru bemoaned.

Mujuru was expelled together with eight ministers among them Presidential Affairs minister Didymus Mutasa, Labour minister Nicholas Goche and Higher and Tertiary Education minister Olivia Muchena.

Others fired were Youth and Indigenisation minister Francis Nhema, Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services minister Webster Shamu, Energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire and Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs minister Simbaneuta Mudarikwa.

Mavhaire’s deputy Munacho Mutezo was the only deputy minister to be axed.

Former Vice President Joice Mujuru has quashed witchcraft allegations saying she is a “God fearing person”.

Addressing the party’s central committee at the Zanu PF headquarters, last week president Robert Mugabe accused former VP of consulting “n’angas” (witch doctors) to topple and succeed him.

Mugabe said he had known for a long time about Mujuru’s alleged plot to oust him from power, reiterating that the beleaguered VP had allegedly gone to the extent of working with the opposition MDC and the United States government to try and achieve her mission.

In a statement addressed to comrades, friends, fellow citizens and countrymen Mujuru said support to advance political career comes from the people not witchcraft.

” I am and have always been a God fearing person and would not and have not resorted to witchcraft to advance my political career. Support comes from the people, it cannot be divined under cover of darkness,” read part of the statement.

Mugabe said he recalled an incident when he had been invited to officially open a school that the Johanne Marange church had built, but Mujuru had insisted that she wanted to open the school herself.

However, Mujuru said her association with the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe  (ACCZ) dates back to 2011 when she was invited to be the organisation’s patron.

“I was invited to be Patron of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe, which represents at least 700 apostolic Christian churches in Zimbabwe, as long ago as January 2011,” Mujuru said.

She added: “This was with the full consent and blessing of His Excellency. I have since then, with the full knowledge of the Head of State, attended numerous church gatherings, as Patron and also as Vice President. There has never been any clandestine or unlawful gatherings that I have been a part of.”

However, ACCZ said it has parted ways with Mujuru following her dismissal on Tuesday by President Robert Mugabe.

See related reading:

I am a true Christian, says Mujuru 

Members of the Vapostori worshiping at a shrine in Harare ( photo: M. Chibaya)

The Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) has parted ways with former Vice-President Joice Mujuru who was their patron following her dismissal on Tuesday by President Robert Mugabe, who accused her of plotting to assassinate him, among other charges.

ACCZ is a body that governs more than 700 apostolic sects in the country.

Speaking to The Zimbabwe Mail on Wednesday ahead of the annual three-day Bishops’ Conference which kicks off in Harare tomorrow, ACCZ president Johannes Ndanga said the apostolic body had cut ties with Mujuru as she was no longer an authority and was also facing serious crimes.

“The patron’s appointment is done to someone who will be representing the president because he is the one who the Holy Spirit through Johanne Masowe in 1934 said will lead the nation,’’ said Ndanga.

“So when former VP was the patron, she was representing President Mugabe, so it is now impossible for her to remain as our patron. The new VP will automatically become our patron. If he is not able to lead us then another senior person assigned will do so.”

Ndanga has for a long time been perceived as a Mujuru ally and was said to be harbouring vice-presidential ambitions in the event that Mujuru took over power.

Meanwhile, according to Ndanga, the First Lady and new women’s league boss, Grace Mugabe and Women Affairs minister Oppah Muchinguri, are expected to grace the conference that would also see a number of bishops being ordained.

About 500 bishops from around the continent are set to attend the event that is meant to tackle women and child abuse cases in Africa.

Ndanga, who is co-ordinating the conference, said the gathering would educate and conscientise the bishops on human rights abuses.

“I was invited to Malawi by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) where there was a conference on social ills against women and children. I delivered the speech and my invite there was based on the issue of how ACCZ is championing women and children’s rights in the country.

“So it is from there that a number of Christian organisations agreed to have a conference to deal with the issues, chief among them, ending child marriages in the region,” he said.

Zimbabwe is adjudged one of the 41 countries in the world with an unacceptable rate of child marriages.

According to a 2012 report based on data collected by UNFPA during the years 2000 to 2011, the country’s prevalence of child marriages was at 31% and was among 41 nations with the highest rates of child marriages.

See related reading:

I am a true Christian, says Mujuru

Mujuru quashes “witchcraft” allegations 

A Spirit Embassy follower, Ndabazinengi Shava who is a businessman has taken spirit embassy prophet Uebert Angel to court for allegedly cheating him of a car.

In summons filed at the high court, Shava argued that Angel duped him into surrendering a Bentley Continental vehicle worth about $300 000 to him on the understanding that he would reap three fold. Shava claims he hasn’t reaped anything as promised.

According to the papers filed by Shava, he is seeking the immediate release of the Black Bentley, which he claims is still registered in his name despite the fact that it was given to Angel.

The gospel of seeding is dominating in most Pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe. Seeding is a Christian religious doctrine that financial blessing is the will of God for Christians, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to Christian ministries will increase one’s material wealth.

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai (photo: M Chibaya).

OPPOSITION MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Wednesday described long-time leader Robert Mugabe as “a senile president with a vituperative wife”.

In an end-of-year statement, Tsvangirai urged Zimbabweans to pray for Mugabe, 90, “so that he understands the enormity of the national plight”.

The Movement for Democratic Change leader said that Zimbabweans were “living under a heavy cloud of despondency” as job losses and company closures mounted.

He offered an apology for his party’s underachievement during the four years of the previous coalition government, claiming that Mugabe’s Zanu PF “stood in the way of everything progressive”.

Tsvangirai has had a difficult 2014 following his loss to Mugabe in elections last year.

The former trade unionist’s MDC has split once again, with the former secretary general Tendai Biti alleging Tsvangirai had “dictatorial tendencies”.

Biti and his supporters have now joined forces with another MDC faction led by Welshman Ncube.

Reports that Tsvangirai and his party are in financial difficulties have not helped his reputation.

Attention has been diverted in recent weeks from the MDC’s woes to the infighting within Zanu PF and the political rise of Mugabe’s wife Grace.

Meanwhile the former premier called for the secession of hostilities with Ncube and Biti, urging them to return to the “big tent for the end-game”, adding the time to “mobilise Zimbabweans is now”.

“The time to unite and mobilize the people of Zimbabwe has come for the end game is beckoning, I for one would be prepared to consider that very seriously and the sooner people realize the importance to unite and to form a united force the better,” he said.

“The MDC believes in the unity of purpose. We realise our colleagues organising themselves into a coalition but we say here is that there is a big tent approach that all democratic forces must unite regardless of their political opinions and egos”.

SPIRIT Embassy Church leader Uebert Angel has been battling a serious health scare after being diagnosed with a brain tumour in January this year in a development that forced him to decamp to his UK base to fight the disease.

The 36-year-old has not been seen in Zimbabwe over the last few months and recently announced he was handing over to his wife, Beverly, the church leadership in order to go on a five-month prayer retreat.

The announcement, made on Twitter, fuelled speculation that Angel had done a runner to escape possible prosecution and public disgrace.

There were reports that police dockets had been opened on him in Harare as well as claims he had made a youthful lover pregnant and spirited her away to Germany to avoid discovery and public shame.

Some media reports also claimed that a delegation of Ghanaian pastors would soon arrive in Harare to expose Angel for allegedly using black magic which he was said to have acquired in the West African country.

In addition, a Harare man recently approached the High Court claiming Angel was refusing to return a US$300,000 Bentley given to the prophet on the promise that the “seed” would, in a matter of months, multiple three times in value.

Angel has not directly responded to the allegations but NewZimbabwe.com was this week informed that he had temporarily moved to the UK for health reasons.

Sources close to the charismatic preacher said Angel’s doctors found he had a brain tumour in January this year but the prophet chose to continue with his church and public engagements, only informing close family of the development.

One of his last few public appearances in Zimbabwe was when he attended President Robert Mugabe’s birthday celebrations in February where he made a brief speech before promptly leaving, to the surprise of the thousands of people gathered for the event.

“He has been battling with cancer privately, dealing with pain which was at times debilitating but he nonetheless publicly maintained a cheerful outlook and attitude,” said our source who asked not to be named.

“However, it came to a point where it became difficult to maintain the pretence that all was well because, often, he would get a sudden surge of pain which made it impossible to remain in public view without people noticing that something was wrong.

“This is what happened during the president’s birthday celebrations, forcing the prophet to leave the event.”

When it became clear that he needed urgent and expert medical attention, the Spirit Embassy leader decided to temporarily relocate to the UK in order to be close to his family.

Angel’s office in the UK would not comment in detail but confirmed the cancer scare adding the prophet was now recovering after being given the all-clear by his doctors.

“The tumour has crystallised. It has stopped growing, so the prophet is in the clear for now,” said our source.

“We know he, now, is not in pain anymore; he fought one of the deadliest diseases and survived. And for that we praise and glory to God.”

Angel has also found himself at the centre of the country’s recent political storm after being linked to President Robert Mugabe’s increasingly powerful wife, Grace.

After he attended the president’s birthday, Angel and his wife also visited Grace’s projects in the country including the orphanage in Mazowe, leading to reports the First Lady was trying to conscript the prophet’s massive following for her political ambitions.

A church insider claimed Angel had received death threats from the first family’s political rivals, adding the whiff of scandal and media attacks against him were part of a deliberate campaign to “try and bring the prophet down, to tarnish and befoul the prophet’s person and his good”.

“Ultimately, you have to give Prophet Angel credit,” said the insider.

“He (Angel) was not only battling cancer, but he has managed, during this trying time, to withstand all personal attacks and accusations, lead a church preaching the gospel and prophesying even in the face of excruciating pain.”