Prophet Makandiwa converts a Bulawayo factory shell into a church

Prominent  Harare self proclaimed prophet, Emmanuel Makandiwa has taken over Textile Mills premises in Bulawayo and converted the factory shell into a church.

The premises are located at Josiah Chinamano Road in the Belmont industrial zone.

Currently, Makandiwa's followers of United Family Church Ministries congregate at Large City Hall and an entry fee of $5 is charged whenever he visits the city tom preach.

Textile Mills is currently operating at a low scale owing to lack of funds but is said to have applied for Distressed and Marginalized Areas Fund (DIMAF) bail out.

The move has angered company workers.

"It's shocking that our company is not going to be used as church. Why don't Makandiwa apply for land to the city council and build his own church," fumed one employee.

She said that she doubts where the church is also leasing out factories in Harare.

Church groupings have been known for taking over cinema's in the city.

Makandiwa pulls thousands of worshipers during his sermons and within a relatively short period of time has established one of the biggest pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe.

He left the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) and founded his church.

But his controversial public healing sessions and prophecies have won him both supporters and critics.