News / Africa
TB Joshua's role in death of Malawi president under spotlight
11 Apr 2012 at 14:04hrs | Views
Nigerian evangelist Temitope Balogun (TB) Joshua has come under fire from clergymen and political analysts who questioned his role in the death of Malawian president Professor Bingu wa Mutharika. Social networking sites have been awash with conspiracy theories saying if this had happened in some Western countries, it would have necessitated a commission of enquiry.
Others said God does not tell prophets who is going to die but rather who needs salvation.Prophet TB Joshua told his congregation of the Synagogue Church of All Nations about two months ago that an African Head of State was going to die of illness in 60 days, and in a subsequent sermon gave the day and date of death.
His prophecy has been linked with the death of Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika who succumbed to cardiac arrest last Thursday.
In separate interviews yesterday, political analysts and clergymen said no prophet of God was expected to prophesy about someone's death no matter how evil they are.
Zanu-PF legislator for Tsholotsho North Professor Jonathan Moyo accused TB Joshua of being part of the conspiracy in the death of President wa Mutharika. He alleged that President wa Mutharika had been killed by his enemies who used TB Joshua's pronouncement to divert attention from them.Prof Moyo alleged that President Mutharika had died as a result of intelligence operation.
"TB Joshua's involvement in this tragedy smacks more of a plot than a prophecy. One thing for sure is that there is no prophecy here but just a prediction if one is to give him a benefit of doubt.
"This leaves open the questions as to what happened because to neutral people there appears to be more to the saga than meets the eye.
"In some circles there is even spirited speculation in well informed circles that TB Joshua had privileged intelligence information about a death plot against President wa Mutharika and the plotters used him as their microphone to divert attention from them and let the death appear like it was an act of God when it was an intelligence operation.
"The kind of exact alleged prophecy on when it was going to happen shows that this was being said by someone with medical information and not from God.
"It's possible to medically induce a cardiac arrest no wonder why his death was first leaked by his doctors.
"If you start seeing people making such prophecies it shows that the world is coming to an end as said in 2 Timothy 3 verses 1-5 about false prophets. I have no doubt in my mind that TB Joshua is a false prophet," Prof Moyo said.
Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop Conference Secretary General Father Frederick Chiromba said the Catholics did not give prophecies on someone's death.
"When you go to the scriptures no one is sanctioned to predict someone's death in the public forum.
"God doesn't give advance notices to individuals about their death. From the Catholic perspective it is not encouraged to give such prophecies. We don't have such kind of prophecies in the Catholics," Father Chiromba said.
Reverend Simon Mutongi Jena of Baptist in Chitungwiza said: "That prophecy isn't clear to me especially prophesying about the death of leaders.
"It would be proper to just say let's pray for our leaders than to say a leader is going to die. This causes alarm and despondency. We just have to unite and pray for our leaders so that God can protect them."
However, Destiny of Afrika Network founding president Reverend Obadiah Musindo differed saying TB Joshua's prophecy to the church was meant for the church to plead with God against the imminent death.
"A prophet is an instrument of God's word to the people and he says what God would have said. There is nothing wrong with TB Joshua's prophecy because the intention was for the church to pray about it so that it could not happen or that there would be no crisis. He was not pompous about it when he gave the prophecy.
"It is unfortunate that the private media here hijacked that prophecy to suit their regime change agenda when they tried to claim it on President Mugabe," Rev Musindo said.
Reverend Rodwell Masanga of Day Spring International Ministries said Prophet TB Joshua had the responsibility to speak God's word.
"TB Joshua was shown that prophecy so that people would pray for that leader. Actually he exhibited wisdom in that he did not tell his congregation the identity of the leader because it was going to cause confusion."
Pastor Simbarashe Muzhuzha of His Presence Ministries in Chitungwiza said Prophet TB Joshua added: "Elijah gave a prophecy about the famine and bread and he told the nation about it. Prophet Agabus told Paul about his imminent arrest. All this was done so that people would pray. This shows us that prophets are expected to give prophecy as God instructs whether negative or positive."
Others said God does not tell prophets who is going to die but rather who needs salvation.Prophet TB Joshua told his congregation of the Synagogue Church of All Nations about two months ago that an African Head of State was going to die of illness in 60 days, and in a subsequent sermon gave the day and date of death.
His prophecy has been linked with the death of Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika who succumbed to cardiac arrest last Thursday.
In separate interviews yesterday, political analysts and clergymen said no prophet of God was expected to prophesy about someone's death no matter how evil they are.
Zanu-PF legislator for Tsholotsho North Professor Jonathan Moyo accused TB Joshua of being part of the conspiracy in the death of President wa Mutharika. He alleged that President wa Mutharika had been killed by his enemies who used TB Joshua's pronouncement to divert attention from them.Prof Moyo alleged that President Mutharika had died as a result of intelligence operation.
"TB Joshua's involvement in this tragedy smacks more of a plot than a prophecy. One thing for sure is that there is no prophecy here but just a prediction if one is to give him a benefit of doubt.
"This leaves open the questions as to what happened because to neutral people there appears to be more to the saga than meets the eye.
"In some circles there is even spirited speculation in well informed circles that TB Joshua had privileged intelligence information about a death plot against President wa Mutharika and the plotters used him as their microphone to divert attention from them and let the death appear like it was an act of God when it was an intelligence operation.
"The kind of exact alleged prophecy on when it was going to happen shows that this was being said by someone with medical information and not from God.
"It's possible to medically induce a cardiac arrest no wonder why his death was first leaked by his doctors.
"If you start seeing people making such prophecies it shows that the world is coming to an end as said in 2 Timothy 3 verses 1-5 about false prophets. I have no doubt in my mind that TB Joshua is a false prophet," Prof Moyo said.
Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop Conference Secretary General Father Frederick Chiromba said the Catholics did not give prophecies on someone's death.
"When you go to the scriptures no one is sanctioned to predict someone's death in the public forum.
"God doesn't give advance notices to individuals about their death. From the Catholic perspective it is not encouraged to give such prophecies. We don't have such kind of prophecies in the Catholics," Father Chiromba said.
Reverend Simon Mutongi Jena of Baptist in Chitungwiza said: "That prophecy isn't clear to me especially prophesying about the death of leaders.
"It would be proper to just say let's pray for our leaders than to say a leader is going to die. This causes alarm and despondency. We just have to unite and pray for our leaders so that God can protect them."
However, Destiny of Afrika Network founding president Reverend Obadiah Musindo differed saying TB Joshua's prophecy to the church was meant for the church to plead with God against the imminent death.
"A prophet is an instrument of God's word to the people and he says what God would have said. There is nothing wrong with TB Joshua's prophecy because the intention was for the church to pray about it so that it could not happen or that there would be no crisis. He was not pompous about it when he gave the prophecy.
"It is unfortunate that the private media here hijacked that prophecy to suit their regime change agenda when they tried to claim it on President Mugabe," Rev Musindo said.
Reverend Rodwell Masanga of Day Spring International Ministries said Prophet TB Joshua had the responsibility to speak God's word.
"TB Joshua was shown that prophecy so that people would pray for that leader. Actually he exhibited wisdom in that he did not tell his congregation the identity of the leader because it was going to cause confusion."
Pastor Simbarashe Muzhuzha of His Presence Ministries in Chitungwiza said Prophet TB Joshua added: "Elijah gave a prophecy about the famine and bread and he told the nation about it. Prophet Agabus told Paul about his imminent arrest. All this was done so that people would pray. This shows us that prophets are expected to give prophecy as God instructs whether negative or positive."
Source - TH
