News / National
Finance minister challenges prophets Makandiwa and Angel to 'produce' $10 billion
05 Jan 2013 at 00:03hrs | Views
FINANCE Minister Tendai Biti has challenged Spirit Embassy founder Prophet Uebert Angel and United Family International Church leader Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa to "produce" over $10 billion required to liquidate Government's debt and fund national programmes.
This follows claims that Prophet Angel enables congregants to "miraculously" receive money in their pockets and bank accounts.
Prophet Makandiwa is on record as saying he can assist people to amass material wealth.
"I respect the men of God, Angel and Makandiwa because of the miracles they are performing. But if they are printing real money, I am asking them to deposit the money in our (Treasury) account at CBZ so that we can pay some of our arrears," said Minister Biti.
He said he would not comment on the implications of this "miracle money" to the United States Federal Reserve because it had not been officially confirmed that it was happening.
"I have no knowledge of that (miracle money) happening. I have never known it to happen, so I can't comment on hearsay and speculation.
"However, on a lighter note, I want to tell these men of God that we have $10,1 billion external debt and $260 million local arrears. We also need $200 million for the referendum. So if they are printing real money, I would be grateful if they can deposit it in our account so that we can settle these debts."
It was reported that Prophet Angel delivered miracle money to congregants at the Botswana miracle night crusade recently and at the crossover night at City Sports Centre in Harare.
In one of his sermons on Youtube, Prophet Angel told congregants in South Africa that he started prophesying when he was in Grade Two when he was seven years old.
He said if people could not explain how Peter found money in the fish's mouth as instructed by Jesus then they could not question how miracle money was found.
The bank, Prophet Angel said, had no records of how the fish found the money.
Prophet Angel said his bank account had been credited with large sums of money on several occasions after praying.
He said this happened because he believed in God and instructed automated teller machines to give him cash despite the fact that his bank account was in the negative.
Prophet Angel said money answered all problems as mentioned in the Bible.
He said people who criticised the miracles were poor, adding that poverty made people jealous.
However, leaders of other churches have questioned how this miracle money was being made.
Secretary general for Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference Father Fredrick Chiromba was quoted in the media as saying it was the duty of the State to regulate on financial matters and to consider whether the "miracle money" complied with financial systems of the country.
Apostle Patrick Zimba of Kairos International Ministries said money was owned by central banks all over the world and every note had a serial number.
He said it was not clear whether the "miracle money" had serial numbers.
This follows claims that Prophet Angel enables congregants to "miraculously" receive money in their pockets and bank accounts.
Prophet Makandiwa is on record as saying he can assist people to amass material wealth.
"I respect the men of God, Angel and Makandiwa because of the miracles they are performing. But if they are printing real money, I am asking them to deposit the money in our (Treasury) account at CBZ so that we can pay some of our arrears," said Minister Biti.
He said he would not comment on the implications of this "miracle money" to the United States Federal Reserve because it had not been officially confirmed that it was happening.
"I have no knowledge of that (miracle money) happening. I have never known it to happen, so I can't comment on hearsay and speculation.
"However, on a lighter note, I want to tell these men of God that we have $10,1 billion external debt and $260 million local arrears. We also need $200 million for the referendum. So if they are printing real money, I would be grateful if they can deposit it in our account so that we can settle these debts."
It was reported that Prophet Angel delivered miracle money to congregants at the Botswana miracle night crusade recently and at the crossover night at City Sports Centre in Harare.
In one of his sermons on Youtube, Prophet Angel told congregants in South Africa that he started prophesying when he was in Grade Two when he was seven years old.
The bank, Prophet Angel said, had no records of how the fish found the money.
Prophet Angel said his bank account had been credited with large sums of money on several occasions after praying.
He said this happened because he believed in God and instructed automated teller machines to give him cash despite the fact that his bank account was in the negative.
Prophet Angel said money answered all problems as mentioned in the Bible.
He said people who criticised the miracles were poor, adding that poverty made people jealous.
However, leaders of other churches have questioned how this miracle money was being made.
Secretary general for Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference Father Fredrick Chiromba was quoted in the media as saying it was the duty of the State to regulate on financial matters and to consider whether the "miracle money" complied with financial systems of the country.
Apostle Patrick Zimba of Kairos International Ministries said money was owned by central banks all over the world and every note had a serial number.
He said it was not clear whether the "miracle money" had serial numbers.
Source - TC
