By Takunda Maodza
United Family International Church leader Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa has thanked the Apostolic Faith Mission leadership for grooming him. Prophet Makandiwa was speaking at the funeral service for Bishop Oliver Chipunza’s wife Makanyara (Prophetess Chipunza) in Harare on Tuesday night.
He also opened up on his life, saying he battled for admission to the Apostolic Faith Mission Zimbabwe theological college and failed to get a place to train as a pastor on three attempts.
Prophet Makandiwa was among dignitaries who thronged Bishop Chipunza’s Number 6 Waddington house in Marlborough, Harare, for the funeral service that attracted hundreds of people, including senior pastors from AFM. Prophet Makandiwa said he persevered until God opened the gates for him.
“I applied for admission at Living Waters Theological Seminary on the first occasion and failed to get a place. I applied for the second time without success. I again applied for the third time, but still failed to get a place at the seminary,” he said.
Prophet Makandiwa said he only got the place after his father intervened and literally dumped him at a senior AFM pastor’s house whom he only identified as Chipere.
“My father then took me to Harare (from his rural home). We went to Waterfalls where he left me at Chipere’s house saying: ‘I am leaving him here until he gets a place at Living Waters’. Chipere ran around until I was admitted to the college,” he said.
Prophet Makandiwa ranks as one of the most prominent pastors in the country with his church services attracting thousands every Sunday. The burial of Prophetess Chipunza who died in her sleep last Saturday is slated for Rusape tomorrow.
“On Thursday the body will be taken from Nyaradzo Funeral Services to Number 6 Waddington Marlborough for body viewing from 1pm to 2pm,” said Apostolic Flame Ministries of Zimbabwe spokesperson pastor Enos Gonyora. “The body will then leave for Rusape at 3pm for burial on Friday.”
The family is waiting for the arrival of Bishop Chipunza’s daughter Namatai from Malaysia where she is studying. The Herald
