Mnangagwa wades into church battles

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday walked into a church storm at the Johane Masowe Vadzidzi VaJeso apostolic church, amid disgruntlements the current leader, who took over from the late Aaron Mhukuta, aka Mudzidzi Wimbo, is abusing the Zanu-PF leader's name and blocking those he suspects are posing a threat to his power.

The church has been at the centre of Zanu-PF factional fights, with party bigwigs flocking to its shrine since the days of the late former president Robert Mugabe amid reports that Wimbo had prophesied about his leadership and who would take over from him.

Mnangagwa has become a regular visitor at the shrine now led by Ishmael Magodi, but divisions have yet again rocked the church, with Mnangagwa's name being dropped in the fights.

Individuals who spoke to The NewsHawks on Thursday said there were serious fights within the church and some of the leaders wanted Mnangagwa to deal with them as his name was said to be abused.

"The church leader uses the Office of the President and Cabinet and drops the name of the President and the First Lady to intimidate others and has blocked those he feels are fighting him," an insider said.

Wimbo died in 2018 and his death has seen fights escalate.

The late Wimbo found favour with mainly Zanu-PF politicians for his prophesy on the country's leadership that they claim have come to pass and, even after his death, the ruling party officials are said to frequent the church in the hope of prophecies from those who remain.

Wimbo is also said to have made a prophesy on Mnangagwa's takeover from Mugabe, which explains why he was closely protected by a faction, including those in the military.

The death of Mudzidzi Wimbo saw Ishmael Magodi becoming his successor and failing to unite one of the dominant apostolic sects in Zimbabwe.

"The shrine known as Goora shrine has been turned into a no-go-area for church members believed to be against the Magodi-led faction," an insider said.

Magodi, insiders said, is quick to use the name of the President and the First Lady when he is confronted by those who accuse him of abusing his authority.

They also claim that in 2020, one of the church leaders, Zex Pamacheche, was barred from the church over the fights.

The late army General Douglas Nyikayaramba was also blocked from the church after he, together with others, questioned some of the actions.

This came as Wimbo's children were barred from having access to their father at the height of the fights until his death.

The church insiders say Magodi now boasts of a huge security team at the shrine that he gets from the President for his protection.