Prophet Magaya expected in Bulawayo today

PROPHETIC Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Walter Magaya is expected in Bulawayo today to distribute a 'new anointing oil" and market his television station, Yadah TV.

This comes as good news to thousands of his followers, some of whom travel to Harare for either deliverance or weekly Sunday services.

A senior church member, who declined to be named said yesterday that Magaya will be at Highlanders Sports Club.

"The main purpose of the visit is to market the church's television channel, Yadah TV. We'll also take the opportunity to sell our promotional products," said the official.

"If all goes well, Prophet Magaya will be there and everybody is invited."

The popular Harare-based prophet recently launched his new anointing oil, which he claims has "resurrection power, fruitfulness, multiplication and dominion power."

In an advertisement flighted on Star FM yesterday, the church announced that the anointing oil to be distributed today will result in "fruitfulness and multiplication."

Highlanders Football Club chief executive officer, Ndumiso Gumede yesterday confirmed that PHD Ministries would be using the club's premises along Fife Street and Masotsha Ndlovu Avenue.

Although the PHD advert said their programme will run from 8AM to 8PM, Gumede said the church will only use the premises for three hours.

"The church approached us and requested to use the club as a venue for their Bulawayo event. We told them that it was overgrown with grass but they offered to clean it up, which they've already done," said Gumede.

Magaya last visited Bulawayo in August last year for a crusade at Amazulu Sports Club, which was attended by thousands of people from different parts of the country.

Of late, PHD Ministries has seen a surge in the number of Zimbabweans flocking to the church, seeking deliverance.

Magaya's anointing oil, has seen many scrambling to acquire the product, with reports that it is now being sold on the black market.

Last year, there were reports that more than 2,000 bottles of anointing oil were distributed on a daily basis by Prophet Walter Magaya's church.

Last year, 11 people died while many others sustained serious injuries during a PHD crusade at Mbizo Stadium in Kwekwe.

Meanwhile, about 6,000 people turned up at Gafa Stadium, Mtapa suburb in Gweru on Tuesday night when word spread that Magaya was scheduled to attend a church service at the venue.

Prophet Magaya however briefly turned up at the stadium at around 4:45PM and took to the podium.

"He didn't preach but just prayed for about 10 minutes. When some people were starting to feel the anointing, he abruptly left the stage and promised to come back for the evening service," said Tawanda Simango from Mkoba Village 6 suburb.

At around 8PM, people started trickling out of the stadium after it was announced that the prophet was no longer coming to the stadium for the evening service.

Overseer Admire Mango said Prophet Magaya was never set to preach or heal people at the stadium.

He said rather it was "The Yadah TV crew" that was supposed to meet PHD cell members from Gweru only.

The overseer said fortunately or unfortunately, word had reached many people saying that the man of God was coming to preach.

"This was a show for Yadah TV crew (Yadah TV is a free to air channel that is owned and run by Prophet Magaya). He only came for a short time in the afternoon," said overseer Mango.

It was brisk business for vendors who came in hundreds to sell beverages, biscuits, isitshwala,airtime, among other things, to the people who were waiting for Prophet Magaya.