'Jesus' goes bonkers at Chronicle offices in Bulawayo

THE man who made headlines after being assaulted by a mob for allegedly claiming to be Jesus, yesterday stormed into the Chronicle newsroom.

Journalists scurried for cover when the seemingly possessed Abdullah Ncube, 53, swept from the news editor's office into the newsroom, to clarify a point.

The self-anointed "Messiah", who claims he is from Filabusi, told our reporters that God had given him power to kill 11,000 people with his "rod".

Ncube, talking at the top of his voice, further claimed that he died 10 years ago and resurrected.

Staff from Umthunywa, B-Metro and Sunday News came to watch, albeit from a distance, as the "Son of God" warmed up to his theme.

"People must learn to be truthful. I never said I am Jesus. I only said nanguyana uJesu (there stands Jesus) and people misinterpreted me and assaulted me. However, the fact that I survived the attack by a mob of countless people shows that I am anointed," boasted the father of seven.

"It is written that a thousand shall fall on your left and 10,000 on your right. That empowers me to kill 11,000 people with this rod. I will kill 11,000 people here in Zimbabwe who doubt that I am God's messenger," he thundered, appearing to go into a trance.

Ncube claimed he had used his powers to free himself after police picked him up following the Nkulumane disturbance.

"When police put handcuffs on me, I said they would fall off and they did. They suddenly started arguing among themselves and released me," said Ncube, dramatically gesturing with his rod.
At this point, security guards rushed to the newsroom apparently fearing for the safety of reporters. Ncube calmed down somewhat. He proceeded to tell the story of his family.

"I have six children with my first wife. I have a nine-month-old child with the second. As I speak, I am not going to work at Bulk Pack, because I am doing God's work. I have no money to pay rent and my landlord may evict me at the end of the month, but I do not care," said Ncube.
Asked to explain how he resurrected, Ncube said he was framed by doctors at Nkayi District Hospital where he used to work as an ambulance driver sometime in 2000.

"I went to prison for something I didn't do. I was killed in prison and taken to Filabusi for burial. However, I rose from the dead before I could be buried. All my relatives are afraid of me as some think I am a ghost. However, it is by the power of God, who wants me to do his work, that I was raised from the dead," he said.

Ncube took time to brag about the tout he assaulted before the crowd set upon him on Sunday.
"I beat him thoroughly. Wherever he is, he must be nursing injuries. I think I knocked off some of his teeth. Let it be a lesson that people should not interrupt when the word of God is being shared. This tout came with an agenda to embarrass and beat me up, but I had the last laugh," he said.

He eventually left Chronicle, closely monitored by the security guards.

Before being assaulted by the mob on Sunday, Ncube was last week almost beaten up by another crowd at Basch Street Terminus after claiming to be the Biblical Moses.
He denied ever claiming to be Moses yesterday.