A BUMPER crowd of more than 200 000 people, including foreign nationals is expected to attend Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa’s Judgement Night 3 to be held on August 28 at the National Sports Stadium.

The one-day conference will run under the theme, Dealing with Enemies of Life.

Makandiwa, who is the founder of United Family International Church is renowned for his prophecies, miracles and healing sessions and he recently made it into the top 50 list of the richest people in Zimbabwe.

His spokesperson Prime Kufa yesterday said so far nationals from 27 countries had expressed their interest to attend the event, which they promised would be full of miraculous healing and interpretation of the word by Makandiwa.

Kufa even promised a higher level of anointing from Makandiwa compared to the level he exhibited last year which attracted approximately 180 000 people.

“Last year’s Judgement Night was only the second edition so it was fairly new, but now obviously more people know about it from the testimonies of others and their expectations are much higher,” Kufa said.

“The Bible says we move from one level of glory to another and a true anointing is not stagnant. The level in which Prophet Makandiwa was during the last Judgement Night, has obviously gone beyond that, and that is the reason why this is going to be different,” he said.

On Makandiwa’s critics, Kufa said it was important for the people to analyse his sermons before they criticised him because people had the tendency of making conclusions after hearing just one sermon.

“What happens with people is that they take one aspect of a whole sermon and interpret it the way they like. People should take time to analyse before they criticise. Others say he concentrates on healing, while some say he preaches the gospel of prosperity. It shows they have not analysed his sermons and they lack understanding.

“People just talk. Jesus performed miracles. He taught as much as he performed miracles. That underscores the importance of miracles.”

Asked why Makandiwa seemed to focus more on miracles and healing than on preaching, Kufa quickly came to his defence, saying Makandiwa was actually renowned for preaching better than many other prophets.

He also said it was normal for people to disagree on the interpretation of the Bible.

“I do not believe we should be fighting each other as Christians. It is normal to have divisions, but members of the body of Christ should not be attacking each other,” he said.

Many vehicles are moving around the capital advertising Makandiwa’s Judgement Night 3.

United Family International Church (UFIC) founder Emmanuel Makandiwa has prophesied that a prominent person will die soon in an aeroplane, but said he would elaborate on the prophecy at his church’s Judgment Night 3 service at the National Sports Stadium in Harare at the weekend.

 Makandiwa made the prophecy during UFIC’s Tuesday’s evening service in Chitungwiza.

Church spokesperson Pastor Prime Kufa confirmed the prophecy, saying more would be revealed on Sunday.

“He will elaborate the on the prophecy on Sunday,” Kufa said.

“He will elaborate on when it will happen, where and describe the field of the prominent person, whether he will be an artiste, businessman or politician.”

A church member who attended the service quoted Makandiwa extensively, revealing how the events leading to the death would unfold.

“I can see a prominent person and he is like in the cloud. Let me clarify, he is in an aeroplane.

“I can see the Lord taking his spirit. I can see people trying to resuscitate him and they will pull down an oxygen mask, but he is already dead right there in the sky.

“But I can see that when they land, they will take the body, for he will no longer be a person, to the hospital for two to three days because they don’t want the prophecy to be confirmed.”

Makandiwa has made several prophesies in the past, with his followers saying most of them had come to pass, although sceptics remain unconvinced.

The man of cloth’s followers claim the UFIC leader, on January 11, prophesied a chemical blast that rocked a warehouse in Tianjin, China, last week killing more than 100 people and leaving more than 700 others hospitalised.

In a video footage circulated by church members, Makandiwa said a deadly blast would rock China and that it would take days for rescue teams to gather strewn bodies.

Makandiwa also prophesied that the blast would cause massive pollution.

IN YEARS gone by West Africa was known for its prowess in football but the tide seems to have shifted. Today, West Africa has claimed a spot as the hub for a brand of religion which has taken southern Africa by storm. This brand of religion comes in different forms but with the same modus operandi to those who can discern.

It is West Africa which pioneered the concept of ‘prophets’ in Zimbabwe where, virtually, every church leader is now a ‘prophet’ working ‘miracles’. Recently, Harare has been hit by a new craze of the West African influence: the country has been flooded by self-proclaimed healers and herbalists that are promising to bring wealth to people using what has become known as ‘short boys’. The healers’ accents and unfamiliarity with local languages connotes that most are foreigners, particularly from West Africa as investigations would reveal.

In view of the harsh economic climate, it would appear that anything which promises to ameliorate the suffering is sooner embraced than scrutinized. The prevailing economic decline has vindicated claims of a positive relationship between economic deterioration and wickedness. The foreign healers’ have been readily embraced and their aggressive marketing seen through the distribution of hordes of flyers and on-tree posters has gripped the attention of many. Nearly every tree in Harare’s business central business district has these posters with all sorts of luring promises.

Similarly, at a very recent religious gathering, a wealthy woman shocked all and sundry when she recounted the horrific life she has been living over the last few years. It was shockingly unbelievable that one would so openly reveal intimate details about their life. The woman recounted the hellish life she has lived for close to six years now. In the quest for wealth, she recounted how her trips to South Africa resulted in her purchasing a money-making ‘short boy’ from an Indian national whom she supplied with fabric.

Long story short, the money-making boy won’t allow her to sleep during the nights, instead it has to be driven throughout the night as a way of appeasement. According to her, she owns mega businesses and even then had a sleek vehicle. Her story is not unique in recent times with the advent of the West African ‘doctors.’

Way back in time, the prospect of owning a goblin was simply unthinkable and represented the height of wickedness that could grip the human soul. It was frowned upon as the doing of evil men. Goblins, by nature, do not come for free; they may be affordable yet there will definitely be sacrifices and ransoms.

One of the ‘doctors’ from the Avenues area, a Ghanaian, said the ‘short boys’ cost $300 while Sandawana oil costs $250. While many unemployed people have opted for vending, running battles with municipal police in Harare’s central business district, some are turning to these ‘fortune doctors.’ The oil is said to bring luck in winning lottery, promotion and lost lovers among other enticing things. “It is different from a ‘tokoloshe’ and your relatives or children will not die, it will just bring money,” said one Dr Igweibuke, a Nigerian.

The healers and herbalists who refer to themselves as ‘doctors’ are now increasingly advertising in newspapers and on tree posters giving ‘hope’ that they can turn a person’s fortunes and bring luck in businesses and turnaround people’s lives. The ‘doctors’ do not only have these ‘short boys’ but also chitaka wallets which gets people money from nowhere.

Remember miracle money? Chitaka wallet is simply another version of this practice evident in churches today. That these practices from these ‘doctors’ and ‘prophets’ are virtually the same and engineered by people from the same land should set discerning people thinking. The claims on the doctors’ flyers and the claims on miracle churches with West African linked ministries are basically two sides of the same coin.

The ‘tokoloshe’ practices were alien to locals yet, today, the prospect of wealth through that route has become a reality. Although they will try and cast these wicked practices in a positive light, the truth is that these are underworld activities.

Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (Zinatha) director George Kandiero described the practice as witchcraft. He said those doctors advertising the ‘short boys’ were foreigners and not Zimbabweans. “Those people are not from Zimbabwe, most of them are from West Africa where they get those things,” said Kandiyero.

Now, nothing can be further from the truth, these are wicked schemes of the Evil One. Wealth in whatever form is not got without pain. Anything that promises to enrich without you lifting a finger cannot possibly be from God. Wealth without work is the devil’s principle. God’s principle is for man to “eat from the brow of his sweat”.

These evil practices further throw a dark shadow on the new crop of prophets with similar sweet promises and spiritual fathers from West Africa encouraging the principle of wealth without work through antics like miracle money and promises of doubling salaries and organ enlargement. It can only be the work of the devil. As long as earth remains, seed, time and harvest will always endure.

Man has to work for his livelihood and that is how it was meant to be. Evil thrives when good men do not expose it. Let’s be wary of the satanic influence for God does not contradict his principles.

LOCAL gospel musicians have an opportunity to shine following calls for entries for the eighth edition of the Crown Gospel Awards scheduled for November 15 at the Durban International Conference Centre in South Africa.

October 1 has been set as the deadline for entries to this year’s awards running under the theme The Higher Level, the New Order, the New Beginning.

The awards founder and executive producer, Zanele Mbokazi, said all was set for the awards ceremony, which he described as “bigger, better and moving from glory to glory”.

In a statement issued recently, Mbokazi said last year’s offering was epic.

“The awards saw gospel greats and the underdogs alike being honoured with a well-deserved crown.

“The performances were nothing short of roof-raising and the fashion was in true Crowns’ style, on-point,” she said.

The organisers said nominations officially opened on August 1 and would close on October 1. They would be open to all African countries.

“Gospel music artistes wishing to enter the Crowns including musicians, engineers, comedians, poets, producers, writers, radio and TV programmes and record companies can access the nomination form from the World Gospel Powerhouse offices or website. Nominations are also open to gospel artistes in all of African countries,” she said.

“Nominees White Party will be held in Johannesburg on October 9 at the Durban Exhibition Centre, and Crown Awards Prayer a week before the main event.”

The awards are the biggest gospel music awards in Africa and some of the biggest in the world with visitors from other provinces, pre-dominantly from Gauteng.

The event has an economic contribution estimated at over R10 million with direct and indirect spending within Durban.

Event manager Zama Mkhize confirmed that while the tickets will only go on sale from Computicket at the end of August, this year they will be having a new category for the VVIP.

“We have a new category for VVIPs, and these tickets are for the first five rows. They will only be available from our offices at R1500. These are purely on a first come first serve basis,” said Mkhize.

The awards are sponsored by the KwaZulu Natal Government, the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Ethekwini Municipality, Sowetan / Sunday World and Drum.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter –Day Saints gave the Highfield Satellite Clinic a face lift by painting the entire clinic as well as repairing the broken down ablution system among other things.

Hanging over the projects to the local authority last Saturday, The Latter-Day Saints said they were leading by example as it was their role to serve others and take care of the City.

“Each year, we are guided by a theme as we choose which project/s to embark on. This year’s theme was, “Hand in Hand with Local Government,” hence that’s why we chose to refurbish a Council Clinic.

“We follow in the footsteps of Jesus who during his days took his time to serve others. More than 200 of our members participated in this project and offered more than 120hrs to complete the job. In this world where time is scarce and people are always busy, we commend our members for prioritising this project,” Harare South Stake president Philip Mathemera said.

Harare South Stake Public Affairs Director, Caroline Kuhudzai said while the church did not have a budget for the projects they do across the country, members sacrificed their time to help with their various talents as a way of giving back.

“Members in this part of Zimbabwe willingly offered their talents, time, skills and service in helping refurbish the said clinic.

“The emphasis of Mormon Helping Hands is not so much in monetary value but in the service Saints willingly offer to those in need. Hence why you didn’t hear any monetary value being attached to the work we did.

“Of course, thousands of dollars were spent on the project and many thanks to all those who partnered with us and offered their help both in cash and kind. As a church, we don’t have a set aside budget for such projects. We look for donations elsewhere should the project require more than our Saints, skills, time and talents,” she added.

“As Church members, we follow the example of the Savior in reaching out and helping others, hence testimonies are strengthened. I’m sure if you knew this place before, you will sure admit that it has been renovated.

“Members even fixed and repaired broken cistern tanks, landscaping that includes trimming trees, even cutting down some, planted 40 shrubs, replaced some broken windows and vanishing wooden doors and fixing broken ones” she said.

Mathemera urged other churches to partner the local authority and serve communities around them.

“It is not sorely the duty of the local authority to take care of the place around us, if other churches can make sure that they take it upon themselves to look after the City, we would have a beautiful nation.

“After all it is people in the community who vandalise most of the properties, so why not sacrifice our time to look after our nation,” he argued.

Young People for Others (YPO) recently organised a two day retreat at the Peter Faber Spiritual Centre at Silveira House.

The retreat was held under the guidance of Fr. Ignatius Padya SJ (Spiritual Advisor) and Ms Chipo Chigwida (the retreat giver).

The first day started off in prayer and reflection upon the inward journey. Individuals got to look into the ‘where they are, how they are and whom they are’ aspects of life. They realised that as a group, they have to lead each other into these stages for their community to be solid and not crumble.

The exercise also led the participants to look into their individual strengths what they can contribute towards the growth of YPO as a group.

The rest of the time was dedicated to silence, reflection and prayer. Fr. Padya SJ then said a joyful mass in the evening and members lit own candles in offering their petitions.

They ended the day with watching a Jesuit movie, ‘The Mission” which touched the hearts of many and left others inspired in various ways.

The group learnt four aspects of Ignition Spirituality, namely, doing everything for God’s greater glory, self-examination, discerning and reaching out to others and sharing their blessedness.

Musician Charles Chipanga has rolled out his second solo album titled Goodness in which he has collaborated with veteran gospel artiste Charles Charamba on the song NdezvaMwari.

“It was humbling that he agreed to contribute on this song that I wrote way back when I was in Form Two. I felt elevated and learnt a lot from Charamba in that experience and I am forever grateful to him for agreeing to write his own words and blending them with mine to produce the lyrical packed song,” said the Kadoma-bred artiste.

Chipanga believes his second project will propel him to dizzy heights in local showbiz.

“I wanted to make an album that appealed to my convictions with everything from what people term gospel but without staying put in the straitjacket of gospel music because I sing spiritual music not just gospel hence I am convinced the project will go a long way in promoting Charlenam music brand,” said Chipanga.

On the album Goodness, Chipanga exudes his outstanding talent on playing marimba — a traditional wooden musical instrument — and he proved to be a force to reckon with as far as marimba is concerned.

The rich tortilla of marimba and new world instruments into a jazzy affair is what makes the album appeal to a wider audience if it gets the adequate promotion.

Some of the plug songs on the album include Mututu, Mwari Chete, Tonamata, Mira Hako and NdezvaMwari among others.

Chipanga is married to Namatayi who was also part of  Mtukudzi’s band and together they formed Chalenam Rhythms outfit. The band released its debut album titled Prayer Expose in June 2011.

UNITED Family Interdenominational Church (UFIC)’s Judgment Night 3 event held at the National Sports Stadium on Friday had its own thrills and dreary moments, battering, curses and miracles.

UFIC leader Emmanuel Makandiwa shocked an estimated 150 000 congregants gathered for the event when he pronounced a life-long curse on suspected three conspirators he claimed had been sent to expose him as a false prophet.

“God showed me two boys and a girl. I saw them rehearsing. God said they will be there and will pretend to be sick and testify falsely to test the prophetic grace that I have given. The first person that I saw will use Peter Mapara and he is here to wait for me to declare miracles. That same disease that you pretend to have, you will have it forever,” Makandiwa said.

“If God allows me to, I will reveal the person who sent you to understand that this is not a rally, but a prophetic movement, we are not a movement to get into a political party, we are a spiritual movement.

“I did not call myself, I was called. What I have said I have said, there is no man of God under the sun to lay hands and rescue you from what I have said.”

Outside the stadium, a daring thief was groaning in pain after being pummeled by congregants who accused him of stealing.

His face was soaked in blood and was at pains to explain how the gods had forsaken him on that sacred night.

“I did not steal anything, I was just running away and they caught me thinking I was a thief,” he said before police whisked him away.

Far from the drama outside, Makandiwa’s followers were kept entertained by musicians including prolific song writer Leonard Zhakata, Charles and Olivia Charamba and the UFIC choir before he burst in shortly after 11pm, sending his followers into some kind of frenzy.

An 11-year-old girl who could not stand on her own was healed instantly, according to the UFIC ushers.

He defended his focus on preaching prosperity gospel saying it was his calling and every gospel was about prosperity in different areas.

“Prosperity is flourishing; it means thriving, good news should be about flourishing. Personally as an individual that is what I preach, the gospel of prosperity,” he said.

At 2am, Makandiwa delivered his forecast saying the country would soon discover huge oil reserves.

“I am seeing oil coming out of our ground,” Makandiwa said.

“No one knows this, but you will know that this nation has a prophet from God,” Makandiwa said amid isolated chants of “prophesy papa” and “you are a true prophet Man of God.”

Makandiwa has made several predictions about the country including during last year’s Judgment Night 2 where he predicted an industrial boom, although this has not yet come to pass.

In January 2013, Makandiwa prophesied a gold glut where citizens would pick up gold nuggets everywhere. That, too, has not yet been fulfilled.

See related reading:

Battle for Supremacy 

1. Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa (photo:M. Chibaya).

   Outspoken Minister of Higher Education Jonathan Moyo Monday short down the prophecy of the United Family International Church (UFIC) charismatic leader Emmanuel Makandiwa that Zimbabwe has vast oil reserves.

   Responding to a tweet by a journalist, Sure Kamhunga, Moyo said prophets across the globe say strange things.

   “Prophets around the world say weird things. The difference in our case is that too many fools entertain the c**p,” said Moyo.

   Kamhunga had said “Zimbabwe prophet says country has rich oil reserves, which he saw in his vision. No words.”

   Speaking during the an all night prayer dubbed Judgment Night 3 last Friday prophet Makandiwa told congregates that thronged the National Sports Stadium in the capital that God had showed him vast untapped oil reserves that would result in the country’s economic turnaround.

   “But I’m seeing something. I’m seeing oil coming out of our grounds.

   “Just in case you think I’m guessing, I will tell you the place no one knows about so you know that in this nation, there is a prophet from God,” Makandiwa said.

   Zimbabwe is facing an extraordinary and multidimensional crisis. An estimated four million Zimbabweans have crossed the Limpopo river into South Africa as a matter of survival, more than three-quarters of the remaining population face serious food shortages, jobs losses, 94 percent of the population is officially unemployed resulting in increased vending among other economic challenges.

   Several government officials, parliamentarians, church leaders, captains of industry and international delegates attended the church service.

   Makandiwa has in the past forecasted “miracle gold” and riches for the country, but this is yet to come to pass.

   See related reading:

Makandiwa curses three people amid miracles

Johane Masowe weChishanu church leader in Marondera, who is also a Zanu PF candidate for Marondera Central constituency, Lawrence Katsiru is terrorissing residents ahead of the by election slated for September 20.

According to the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) was sending youths to check on the people who have registered to vote in the by-election.

“Last Friday morning (the 28th of August 2015) the Zanu PF candidate for Marondera Central constituency, Lawrence Katsiru allegedly sent Zanu PF youths to check on the number of people who had registered to vote in the by election scheduled for the 19 September 2015,” ZPP said in a statement.

According to a statement by ZPP, the youths visited Marondera suburbs of Dombotombo, Yellow City, Rusike Phase 1 and Morningside where they demanded voters’ registration slips.

ZPP named Wiseman Rumwenje, Maria Hove and Margaret Phiri as leaders of the youths who were moving around with three counter books recording names of people who had registered.

The youths were allegedly noting down voters’ registration numbers. They allegedly said the registration details were going to be checked after the September 19 by-election and those who are not on the list would be followed up.

According to the report, Katsiru has vowed to deal with those who will try to stop him from becoming a Member of Parliament.

Zimbabwe elections, since 2000 parliamentary election, have been characterised by intimidations and in some cases people have lost their lives as the ruling party and opposition clash.

A HARARE church leader who was on bail for rape charges was over the weekend rearrested for attempting to silence the woman he raped in July by giving her a bribe of $1 000.

Takura Gadzikwa, 34, is the founder of Greater Embassy ministries which operates from Cameroon Street in the city.

Gadzikwa was this week dragged to the magistrates’ courts together with his wife, Evermore, an accomplice in the new case.

He was charged for defeating or obstructing the course of justice and bribery.

Prosecutors told court that Gadzikwa, who resides in Greendale, was arrested for rape in July this year and was released on $30 bail at Chivhu magistrate court.

As part of his bail conditions, he was ordered not to interfere with state witness.

However, between August 17 and September 3, Gadzikwa sent WhatsApp messages to the victim persuading her to withdraw the charges.

On September 3, Gadzikwa sent messages to the woman’s sister and asked her to come for lunch at a restaurant in Eastlea. He promised to give them $1,000.

The sister then made a police report and a trap was set.

The two sisters then went to the meeting place where they met the pastor and his wife.

Gadzikwa ordered lunch for them and later gave them $1,000 not knowing that they were being monitored by the police.

The man of the cloth was subsequently arrested together with his wife.

RUSAPE: A self-styled Buhera prophet has been sentenced to 18 years in jail for sodomising a follower.

Maxwell Charamba, 43, of Buhera under Chief Makumbe denied sodomy charges when he appeared before magistrate Livingstone Chipadza but was convicted due to the overwhelming evidence.

In his defence, Charamba blamed the devil.

“Your Worship, I was overpowered by the devil and could not control myself,” he said.

Charamba will however, serve an effective 15-year jail term after the court suspended three years on conditions.

Magistrate Chipadze found him guilty of sodomising a Dorowa youth aged 18.

The court was told that on July 28 this year, Charamba visited the complainant’s home and arranged that a healing session be conducted at Save River.

Charamba went to the river with the complainant where he grabbed her on the neck and sodomised her once.

Hading down sentence, magistrate Chipadze told Charamba he was a false prophet who had the intention of sodomising the teen.

Tirivanhu Mutyasira prosecuted.

IN my hardscrabble voyage as a writer I have participated in gruelling religious debates with people of diverse minds on different aspects of religion and, as usual, religious narratives always evoke intense emotion. However, I have noticed that there is a tinge of hope in making headway when people debate having frames of reference that are convergent with the Bible unlike discussions where the Bible is ‘banned.’

I concur that it would be wrong for anyone to ram their beliefs – theistic or atheistic down other people’s throats; some won’t accept God or the Bible. Of course, even within Christendom, currently there are a lot of ‘demonic’ doctrines flying around yet there remains some who contend that religion in its entirety is a fallacy and a sheer waste of life. They actually put the existence of God into question.

Now, the debate assumes a completely different trajectory when God himself becomes the object of dispute and, worse, when the sceptics maintain that the Bible cannot be used as corroboration on the existence of God. “You can’t quote the Bible to support its claims,” so they say. And they have asked one question: “If God created all things, then tell us who created God?”

Well, by definition, God is the uncreated Creator of the universe. God cannot possibly have been created otherwise he ceases to be God and becomes unworthy of worship. A logical grasp of the widely acknowledged law of cause and effect is paramount in proving the existence of God. The law states that everything that has a beginning has a cause and therefore a resultant effect. So the following statement is critical in understanding this article: Everything which has a beginning has a cause. All things that begin have a cause.

It is unreasonable to believe something could begin to exist without a cause. This fundamental law applies to everything which has a beginning. For instance, the computer or cell phone before you right now certainly had a beginning, it did not originate in a cell phone dealer’s shop; there had to be a place where, piece by piece, it was assembled. Everything that had a beginning, including you the reader had a cause. Whether atheist or theist, we would all converge that everything that has a beginning had to have a cause.

Undeniably, the universe had to have a beginning, our only difference as atheists and theists being that theists believe in the God version of creation while atheists in their various factions as given athttp://www.conservapedia.com/Atheism believe in various scientific or philosophical disproving theories. The universe cannot have been self-caused; nothing can create itself.

Quantum mechanics has never produced something out of nothing. The universe evidently had to have a beginning; the laws of thermodynamics dictate that and, more importantly, these are the most fundamental laws of the physical sciences. The first law being that the total amount of mass-energy in the universe is constant and the second law stating that the amount of energy available for work is running out; entropy, in other words, is increasing to the full.

It follows that if the whole amount of mass-energy is limited, and the amount of usable energy is declining, then certainly the universe cannot have existed forever. Otherwise it would already have exhausted all usable energy of the universe. So the observable outcome is that the universe began a finite time ago with a lot of usable energy, and is now running down. The universe therefore, having had a beginning, requires a cause, exactly as Romans 1:20 states. The universe is subject to the fundamental law of cause and effect because it had a beginning.

This brings us to the marrow, the heart of this piece of writing: how does this law of cause and effect defeat atheism. Well, the law of cause and effect as highlighted states that all things that begin need to have a cause. Now, the ‘thing’ which created the universe cannot possibly be subject to the same laws that govern the universe otherwise it would also be subject to the laws of thermodynamics; that ‘thing’ therefore is not natural but has to be Super-natural and that is God. He is outside the laws of thermodynamics.

A thing which creates something will naturally be superior to the created thing. The one who assembled the automobile obviously had to be above or smarter than the machine. More like what Albert Einstein said, “We can’t solve our problems at the same level of thinking we were when we created them”. That would be to concur with the logic that the solution of the problem is certainly higher and is governed not by the same logic that created the problem.

Likewise, God the creator of the universe does not have a beginning and is therefore not governed by the laws that govern things that have a beginning. He has no beginning; He is outside time; He existed before time. He has no origin and is therefore outside the law of cause and effect. He has always existed, so doesn’t need a cause. The Laws of Thermodynamics weaken the argument of God having had a beginning. He is outside the laws of decay that govern the universe.

A theistic conclusion is therefore inescapable and atheists would only be dishonest to deny the fact that the Creator of this universe is a supernatural entity not subject to the laws governing the universe. Therefore, He is not limited by the time dimension He created. God  has no beginning in time. Therefore, He doesn’t have a cause.

The Catechists Coordinator in the Archdiocese of Harare Sr. Demetria (LCBL) says it is important for Catholic youths to have an on-going formation process that will ensure they have more time to study and learn about their faith even after baptism and confirmation.

She was addressing a three day Youth Catechism course that was held at Rockwood Spiritual Centre from the 21- 23 August 2015.

She added that although the youth group is the most vulnerable to worldly pressures, adults also needed to go through the same process as this allowed them to enrich their spirituality the Catholic way.

Fr. Ncube (SVD) who facilitated the course which was themed, “understanding the Bible the Catholic way” highlighted that Catechism courses were benefiting many parishioners. He said many parishioners were just Catholics by birth but lacked knowledge of Catholicism. He added that having such seminars created a platform where the faithful dialogue, ask and understand questions relating to the Catholic faith.

The course was attended by several youths from various parishes in the Archdiocese of Harare. Topics covered included the origin of the bible, how to interpret the bible, the relationship between scripture and tradition, the Sabbath question, icons, symbols and statues in the church and many others

Among the countless initiatives of jubilarian Fr. Nobert Gille SJ, is Shingirirayi Student Co-operative Trust, better known as Shingirirayi Youth Ministry.

The idea of Shingirirayi Youth ministry dawned on Fr. Gille while he was at St Rupert’s Mission in Makonde District. During its formative years, the organisation engaged youths living on the rural mission environs in poultry, gardening, goat keeping and other small income generating projects.

When he moved to Murombedzi, his determination to continue work among the youths only got stronger. In 1989, the organisation was registered. Today, Shingirirayi Youth works mainly as a street ministry among disadvantaged youths in the high density areas of Harare, Chitungwiza, Chinhoyi and Kariba. Fr Gille encourages pastoral work among the same youths group in Murombedzi Rural using sport as bait.

“At the peak of our work, we were working with about 21 000 young people countrywide. Due to resource limitations, the numbers of registered youths we work with has come down significantly and we are now working with about 6 000 young people,” says Administrator, James Yakobe.

The organisation’s programmes do not discriminate, working among Catholics and non- Catholics alike. Once the youths start interacting with Youth Promoters, they are taught the ways of the bible and are encouraged to live honestly and attend church.

Zimbabwe’s President, Robert Mugabe, Tuesday castigated a new crop of prophets that have mushroomed in the country in recent years saying they are fake and abusing the bible to amass wealth.

President Mugabe, who was speaking to government officials and legislators during a luncheon hosted by the local government ministry after the official opening of the third session of parliament, said the prophets are only after people’s money.

“Some of these churches are using the bible to generate cash with it, anyone who has no job they are now just starting a church,” he said.

“They will say I read here in the bible and it says I should start a church. They just use one verse in the bible and they use it, use it like nothing.

“Haaa, now look at what happens, people are flocking these churches; they now engage these musicians; these good singers – our pastors, some mean well but some are just dishonest.”

Although he did not name any church leader both prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa and prophet Walter Magaya have had musicians performing at their functions.

Sungura ace Alick Macheso, Dendera musician Sulumani Chimbetu and dancehall sensation Tocky Vibes among other musicians have performed at the Prophetic Healing Deliverence (PHD) Ministries.

In 2011 Makandiwa’s Church United Family International Church (UFIC) attracted a number of local musicians who all jostled to get slots at the church.

Notable musicians like Peter Moyo, Leonard Zhakata, Biggie Tembo junior, Diva Mafunga and Joice Semeti were among other musicians who joined UFIC.

Mugabe added: “Those church leaders whom we see that they are lying, we find many people going there.

“That is our life; we need to sort such issues as a family, as a country.

In recent years, Zimbabwe has witnessed a phenomenal growth in new churches with a number of miracle working prophets attracting huge crowds.

“That must be sorted,” said Mugabe.

“We want people who are straightforward; dishonest, no. Let’s have the virtues of honest, the virtues of love, charity, helping each other.

“We need the virtues of humility and virtues of helping the sick, those in need. That should be our life, not cheating our people.”

Mugabe said a number of people have lost money to these church leaders who promise then quick returns.

About 2500 kids and animators attended a congress for Missionary Holy Childhood Kids from the 13th-16th of August at Makumbi Mission. The congress was hosted by the Archdiocese of Harare.

The theme of the congress was “consecrated for a mission” and was graced by the Archbishop of Harare, His Grace, Robert Ndlovu. He encouraged the delegates to live a prayerful life and pray for their families, friends and for the country.

The children participated in activities which included uniform parade, bible quiz, talent show, dramas and sports.

Pope Francis has instituted a new day of prayer and celebration for the Church entitled the “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation,” to be celebrated on September 1 each year.

Expressing hope that all Christians can work together toward common goals, he calls this day “a precious opportunity to renew our personal participation in this vocation as custodians of creation, raising to God our thanks for the marvelous works that He has entrusted to our care…”

In conjunction with the World Day of Prayer, the Global Catholic Climate Movement is inviting all Catholics to celebrate the “Season of Creation” from September 1 until the Feast of St. Francis on October 4. The Season of Creation extends the spirit of the World Day of Prayer as a time of ecological conversion over a 5 week period.

The GCCM will be offering weekly reflections and a Webinar series during the Season of Creation to encourage individuals and communities to pray, reflect, and act in response to the gratuitousness of God’s love through creation and our vocation as “protectors of God’s handiwork” (Laudato Si, 217).

The Sacred Heart of Jesus guild (SHJ) gathered for feast days at St Michael’s Mission Mhondoro from the 7th-10th of August under the theme; “Rejoicing in Sorrow”.

During choir competitions, Dzivarasekwa took the trophy for the best Choir. Participants also engaged in sports and cultural activities.

An added attraction was a mock wedding and exhibition of different cultures through song and dance. A number of priests also graced the occasion.

Brother Mark from St Michael’s Mission encouraged guild members to always be cheerful, most of all when things were not going well for them. He also encouraged the faithful to pray all the time and remember that things would not always go as planned.

Archdiocese of Harare Sacred Heart Guild secretary, Ruth Ndoorwi said the feast was very interesting than previous years. “We had the most spiritual time with benediction and masses and the theme talk was spiritual too,” she said.

PERHAPS no man has strongly captured the truth that the human body was purposefully designed than United States surgeon, Evereet Koopp, who insightfully said, “When I make an incision with my scalpel, I see organs of such intricacy that there simply hasn’t been enough time for natural evolutionary processes to have developed them.”

This statement, even before I converted to the faith, made solid sense to my then rebellious mind. The truth of Koopp’s statement should be evident at a glance. It would be outright mischief to say we do not know or to try and attribute the intricacy of human life to micro mutations. That a meaningless chance process, acting on the effects of random mutation, could fabricate such complexity and organisation as the human liver where each component part must carry out its own distinctive task in a harmoniously functional unit is unimaginable.

Against this background, it is tragic that a hoax packaged as a theory (Evolution) has, over decades, been crassly embraced and turned into a religion, with some people fighting hard to make the world believe that this universe started with a big bang and that all the countless forms of life on earth have their origins in a single-celled organism. They have chosen to make people believe that life on earth, in all its forms, began on its own accord. In other words, we should believe that human beings, animals, insects, birds, reptiles and plants all evolved from a common ancestor.

The Evolution Theory is indeed one of the greatest delusions of all time which was hastily embraced by people who never really paused to think of its plausibility. Its fallaciousness should be evident at a glance, yet some scientists and non-scientists have gone on to create hype around it. It would appear that, in their quest to disprove God, they hurriedly embraced a hollow theory.

A clear-headed analysis of the arguments put forward by the Darwin Theory exposes sophisticated propaganda that has been handed over to generations and some, in their gullibility or strong headedness, have gone on to swallow it. Indeed posterity will marvel at how such a flawed theory could be accepted with unbelievable rashness as it has. The Theory of Evolution is oxymoronic; how does chaos turn into order against all natural and scientific laws.

Charles Darwin, among many other assertions, claimed that random mutations plus natural selection is sufficient explanation of the intricate life before us. It is heartening, however, that the passage of time has been the most vindicating factor in invalidating the fraudulent Darwinian Theory. To date, nobody, not even a single scientist, has ever succeeded in producing even one new species by the accumulation of micro-mutations. No matter how numerous they may be, mutations have never produced any kind of Evolution.

The idea of natural selection bringing life in its various forms is so farcical that personally I can’t even put it into words. It is ironic that people who reject the existence of a Designer of the universe would gladly and eagerly accept that an intelligible communication via radio signal is evidence of an intelligent source, yet reject an intricate design of a well-coordinated system such as the digestive tract.

My honest conviction, having endured many evolutionary debates and insults, is that mischief, downright dishonesty or the pursuit of a satanic agenda explains the fallacious theories that have been readily embraced and thrown round the world to dispel the notion of God the Creator (Jehovah).

A complete picture points to intelligent creative design of a substantially high order. It is pathetic that we have scientists who are trying to prove evolution which no scientist can ever prove. Even Charles Darwin in his twilight years confessed, on hindsight:

“To suppose that the eye, with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus, the different amounts of light and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree”- The Origin of Species

Atheists, against all odds, insist that all of nature can be explained on its own terms without invoking a Supernatural Creator. Like I highlighted before, it would be the highest form of malice or unmitigated dullness to suppose that we cannot attribute life to a purposeful Designer and Creator because the design is comprehensive and purposeful, achieving God’s objective to form a habitable earth with a mind-blowing diversity of living things.

In conclusion, I would be direct: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against the ungodliness und unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes… have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they (evolutionists) are without excuse. (Romans 1:19, 20).