'Mugabe's men backbiting him'

As Zimbabwe enters unchartered and turbulent waters, popular preacher Emmanuel Makandiwa yesterday said the chaos unfolding in the country has been authored by senior people surrounding President Robert Mugabe  who are eager and desperate to see his back.

Without mentioning names, Makandiwa said some of Mugabe's close henchmen had deliberately subjected people to untold suffering so that anger against the 92-year-old escalates.

Makandiwa, who is the leader of the United Family International Church, was quoted by some of his congregants saying that the country's leadership feels little of the pains that the majority of Zimbabweans are faced with because they are insulated by their riches.

Although efforts to speak to Makandiwa's spokesperson Prime Kufa were futile as his mobile phone rang unanswered, those who attended the church service yesterday told the Daily News that the popular preacher said "President Mugabe is in trouble" and is working with people who are working against him.

"Zimbabweans aren't asking for teargas. They are asking for bread. Even Jesus said there is no father who can give his child a stone when he is asking for bread" a follower of Makandiwa quoted the charismatic preacher as saying.

"I was standing here in 2014 and I said children of Zimbabwe are going to erupt like a volcano. This is something we cannot afford to ignore.

"The children are bitter and there are certain things we cannot afford to ignore," Makandiwa reportedly said.

Commenting on the recent import ban, Makandiwa is reported to have said he initially thought it was a joke.

" When I heard of the import ban I said it should be a joke. I could not imagine learned people sitting down and resolving to ban imports. You cannot promote a product that is non-existent. But all this is being done to incite people to revolt".

According to those who attended the service, Makandiwa said that the import ban was a joke because there is no industry to protect at the moment.

He also told his followers that the problems facing the country are being orchestrated by people around Mugabe.

"This is deliberate, it's being planned by men who are close to the president, they are the ones planning the demonstrations. Our president is in trouble. There shall come time when these same men shall go door to door beating up people to join the demonstrations. They want to foment chaos," Makandiwa said.

And a video which has since gone viral showing police details torturing suspected perpetrators of last week's crippling demonstrations has also caught the attention of the usually taciturn clergy - which expressed revulsion at the brutal nature of the country's law enforcement agents.

And Makandiwa told his multitude of followers that even in the face of difficulties, attempts by Zimbabweans to find solutions through prayers can also be thwarted by police who can even beat up people in prayer.

"Their kids don't learn in Zimbabwe. Events in Zimbabwe don't affect them because they are sorted. It's ordinary man that suffers," Makandiwa reportedly said.

He added, "Even if you call for national prayer and you are down on your knees praying they will beat you up so as to incite violence."

Makandiwa joins several other clergymen who have commented on the current situation, with some going to the extent of calling Mugabe to step down.

Some of the churchmen who have been very vocal on the current economic situation include #ThisFlag pastor Evan Mawarire,  Munyeza, Tudor Bismark and Ancelimo Magaya.

But it is the addition of  Makandiwa's voice  that has sat tongues wagging in the country as Zimbabwe enters a homestretch.

For the past 36 years of Mugabe's rule, pastors have not ventured into politics preferring to remain aloof.

However, as the Zimbabwe crisis continues deepening, they have found their voice to speak about the social ills and the need to reform.

Only last week, citizens embarked on a massive stay away, which resulted in the arrest of several public on public violence allegations.

Several were brutalised by the police. A video circulating on social media platforms, showing police brutality has irked many people especially the church.

"My heart weeps at this barbaric, inhuman and totally disgusting act of brutality," said Faith Ministries pastor and businessman, Shingi Munyeza on his Facebook page, calling on the perpetrators to be brought to book. Munyeza said such brutality should not be allowed in modern society.