CELEBRITY preachers are reportedly spending millions of dollars on luxury cars at a time their flock is feeling the effects of the liquidity crunch bedevilling Zimbabwe.
The mega-rich preachers,
who attract large crowds during their services, flaunt their expensive
rides and designer clothes among their congregation; many who do not
even own cars and live well below $1 a day.
However, the followers are seemingly not disturbed by the show of opulence which they have come to accept much in the same manner described by renowned philosopher Karl Marx.
In 1834 he wrote that; “Religion is the opium of the masses.”
Marx believed that the problems in religion mirrored those in the society and that religion resulted in the loss of self-consciousness where one literally celebrates one’s own oppression.
In
the case of Zimbabwe, mired in economic problems, people have turned to
religion to cope with societal injustices and have also flocked to
churches in search of healing and solutions to their financial problems.
Last month, charismatic preacher and founder of the United Family International Church (UFIC) prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa reportedly acquired the latest S65 Mercedez Benz AMG which has an estimated cost of $300 000.
Makandiwa’s latest acquisition is believed to be the first of its kind in Africa as it was only released in Germany recently.
The preacher, who is popular for his supernatural powers that have seen him healing the sick and performing weight-loss miracles, reportedly has also acquired 500 luxury cars for pastors.
Not to be outdone, Passion Java, fondly known as “Prophet Passion” by his followers also splurged half a million dollars on three luxury vehicles for his pastors.
Prophet Uebert Angel Mudzanhiri, founder of Spirit Embassy and close friend of Makandiwa also caused a stir early this year when he bought a brand new Ferrari for his wife Beverly.
According to www.truecar.com, a website that advertises and sells top-of-the-range cars, a Ferrari costs anything between
$188 425 to $400 000.
Angel who is nicknamed “major” by his followers last year also said he owned a Lamborghini among his fleet of luxury vehicles.
A Lamborghini costs anything between $100 000 to $400 000 and when one imports such a vehicle into the country, it automatically attracts a 100 percent duty bringing the price to close to $1 000 000.
Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) founder Walter Magaya, however, is seen as being the modest among the local crop of celebrity preachers as he reportedly drives a second hand Mazda Demio which ranges in price from $3 000 to $5 000.
The celebrity preachers’ conduct had come under the spotlight because their spendthrift ways come at a time the majority of Zimbabweans are looking for divine intervention as a solution to their problems.
The
expensive vehicles come as the majority of the preachers’ congregants,
who look up to them as custodians of the law of God and as their
shepherds who will show them the light are failing to send their
children to school, let alone feed themselves as the economy continues
to bleed.
United Nations World Food Programme on one hand estimates that 2,2 million people needed food aid.
University of Zimbabwe lecturer Eldred Masunungure said what was happening was a reflection of a comprehensive and deep moral decay in Zimbabwe.
“It’s a reflection of the biblical Sodom and Gomorrah where those who are supposed to be leaders are looting,” he said.
The political science lecturer went on to say that the events witnessed in these churches where leaders flaunted their wealth without conscience revealed that there was no longer a sense of shame.
“It’s
an infection like Ebola, we don’t have a cure. I think they (celebrity
preachers) have lost their way. There is nothing biblical about this.
It’s all commercial, religion is sacred but it has been commercialised,”
Masunungure said.
“We no longer have a sense of shame in politics and in religion. There are no red lines anymore. There is no longer that moral constraint played by shame in our society,” he added on.
Masunungure, however, said the world should not be too quick to condemn the charismatic preachers without understanding where they were coming from.
“Maybe they are taking it like a business and like businessmen who found a niche. They have detected that there is an opening to make money using the Bible and, therefore we should not condemn them as religious people.
“If they come out in the open as business people who are using a readily available tool, the Bible, and exploiting it in an area of suffering then it is ok,” he said.
Noah Pashapa, bishop and founder of Life and Liberty Churches International said what was happening was a symptom of a value system which is consumeristic, materialistic and individualistic.
He said the actions of the celebrity preachers where shaped by the theology of prosperity and not centred on the cross.
“Their theology is centred on the wants and needs of humans and not on the Lordship of Christ,” Pashapa said adding that; “If your theology is Christ-centred according to Mark 10:45, then you are driven by compassion and you will live your life for others. You will be creating wealth so you can help others.
The pastor also said; “As it is, these men are running the church like a business. Their theology is anthropocentric (centred on the wants and needs of the human being)”
Former Education, Sports and Culture Minister David Coltart also expressed concern over the extravagance of the men of cloth which he said were akin to a culture perpetuated by Zanu PF.
“I fear the Church in Zimbabwe is simply mirroring a very poor culture established by Zanu PF in the last 34 years.
“I have nothing against Mercedes Benz vehicles but question why we are spending so much of our precious foreign exchange on such luxury vehicles, as Government,” Coltart said on his Facebook wall.
The Senator who was responding to an article published in the local media about Makandiwa’s acquisition of an S65 Mercedez Benz AMG said it was sad that church leaders were following that example.
“As Christians we are meant to be salt and light — leading the nation in better directions. If this story is true, surely it would have been better for a Church leader to have chosen a more modest vehicle?” Coltart said.
He added that; “I just cannot imagine that Jesus would be happy driving off in such a vehicle in any circumstances but especially in Zimbabwe today with so much poverty and economic turmoil.
“Jesus’
triumphal entry to Jerusalem, recorded in Matthew 21:1-11, was done on a
donkey — “See your King come to you, gentle and riding on a donkey”.
Jesus deliberately eschewed opulence and I can’t help feeling that is
what is desired of us in our Christian walks.
It doesn’t mean to say that Jesus is against the rich — the day before he rode into Jerusalem he said “you will always have the poor among you” (John 12:8) — or against luxurious goods (in the same incident he was happy for expensive perfume to be poured on his feet). But Jesus was never showy, and was always deeply conscious of never setting himself apart from the people he was reaching out to.”
Francis Mufambi, a social commentator said; “The main problem is that the world has been hijacked by white and black comprador colonialists who are obsessed with extreme greediness, selfishness, a people without reason and conscience who only think of satisfying their narrow luxurious needs at the expense of millions who really need something to put in their mouths.”
However, the followers are seemingly not disturbed by the show of opulence which they have come to accept much in the same manner described by renowned philosopher Karl Marx.
In 1834 he wrote that; “Religion is the opium of the masses.”
Marx believed that the problems in religion mirrored those in the society and that religion resulted in the loss of self-consciousness where one literally celebrates one’s own oppression.
Prophet Uebert Angel New Expensive Car
Last month, charismatic preacher and founder of the United Family International Church (UFIC) prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa reportedly acquired the latest S65 Mercedez Benz AMG which has an estimated cost of $300 000.
Makandiwa’s latest acquisition is believed to be the first of its kind in Africa as it was only released in Germany recently.
The preacher, who is popular for his supernatural powers that have seen him healing the sick and performing weight-loss miracles, reportedly has also acquired 500 luxury cars for pastors.
Not to be outdone, Passion Java, fondly known as “Prophet Passion” by his followers also splurged half a million dollars on three luxury vehicles for his pastors.
Prophet Uebert Angel Mudzanhiri, founder of Spirit Embassy and close friend of Makandiwa also caused a stir early this year when he bought a brand new Ferrari for his wife Beverly.
Prophet Uebert Angel House and Cars in U.K
$188 425 to $400 000.
Angel who is nicknamed “major” by his followers last year also said he owned a Lamborghini among his fleet of luxury vehicles.
A Lamborghini costs anything between $100 000 to $400 000 and when one imports such a vehicle into the country, it automatically attracts a 100 percent duty bringing the price to close to $1 000 000.
Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) founder Walter Magaya, however, is seen as being the modest among the local crop of celebrity preachers as he reportedly drives a second hand Mazda Demio which ranges in price from $3 000 to $5 000.
The celebrity preachers’ conduct had come under the spotlight because their spendthrift ways come at a time the majority of Zimbabweans are looking for divine intervention as a solution to their problems.
Prophet Uebert Angel cars -Lamborghini in London
United Nations World Food Programme on one hand estimates that 2,2 million people needed food aid.
University of Zimbabwe lecturer Eldred Masunungure said what was happening was a reflection of a comprehensive and deep moral decay in Zimbabwe.
“It’s a reflection of the biblical Sodom and Gomorrah where those who are supposed to be leaders are looting,” he said.
The political science lecturer went on to say that the events witnessed in these churches where leaders flaunted their wealth without conscience revealed that there was no longer a sense of shame.
Prophet Uebert Angel Cars and private jet
“We no longer have a sense of shame in politics and in religion. There are no red lines anymore. There is no longer that moral constraint played by shame in our society,” he added on.
Masunungure, however, said the world should not be too quick to condemn the charismatic preachers without understanding where they were coming from.
“Maybe they are taking it like a business and like businessmen who found a niche. They have detected that there is an opening to make money using the Bible and, therefore we should not condemn them as religious people.
“If they come out in the open as business people who are using a readily available tool, the Bible, and exploiting it in an area of suffering then it is ok,” he said.
Noah Pashapa, bishop and founder of Life and Liberty Churches International said what was happening was a symptom of a value system which is consumeristic, materialistic and individualistic.
He said the actions of the celebrity preachers where shaped by the theology of prosperity and not centred on the cross.
“Their theology is centred on the wants and needs of humans and not on the Lordship of Christ,” Pashapa said adding that; “If your theology is Christ-centred according to Mark 10:45, then you are driven by compassion and you will live your life for others. You will be creating wealth so you can help others.
The pastor also said; “As it is, these men are running the church like a business. Their theology is anthropocentric (centred on the wants and needs of the human being)”
Former Education, Sports and Culture Minister David Coltart also expressed concern over the extravagance of the men of cloth which he said were akin to a culture perpetuated by Zanu PF.
“I fear the Church in Zimbabwe is simply mirroring a very poor culture established by Zanu PF in the last 34 years.
“I have nothing against Mercedes Benz vehicles but question why we are spending so much of our precious foreign exchange on such luxury vehicles, as Government,” Coltart said on his Facebook wall.
The Senator who was responding to an article published in the local media about Makandiwa’s acquisition of an S65 Mercedez Benz AMG said it was sad that church leaders were following that example.
“As Christians we are meant to be salt and light — leading the nation in better directions. If this story is true, surely it would have been better for a Church leader to have chosen a more modest vehicle?” Coltart said.
He added that; “I just cannot imagine that Jesus would be happy driving off in such a vehicle in any circumstances but especially in Zimbabwe today with so much poverty and economic turmoil.
Prophet Uebert Angel and his wife in London
It doesn’t mean to say that Jesus is against the rich — the day before he rode into Jerusalem he said “you will always have the poor among you” (John 12:8) — or against luxurious goods (in the same incident he was happy for expensive perfume to be poured on his feet). But Jesus was never showy, and was always deeply conscious of never setting himself apart from the people he was reaching out to.”
Francis Mufambi, a social commentator said; “The main problem is that the world has been hijacked by white and black comprador colonialists who are obsessed with extreme greediness, selfishness, a people without reason and conscience who only think of satisfying their narrow luxurious needs at the expense of millions who really need something to put in their mouths.”
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