Makandiwa’s US$300 000 Mercedes-Benz turns heads

There was commotion at a local hotel yesterday when scores of people mobbed United Family International Church founder Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa as he drove off in his latest Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG that some motoring freaks claimed to be the first of its kind in Africa.

Clad in his favoured floral Angelo Galasso shirt and a matching faded jean, Prophet Makandiwa, who had just had lunch at the hotel, drove off in his latest black “beast” that reports say arrived in the country last week from South Africa.

The latest acquisition, which a quick check on the internet shows that it cost over US$300 000, turned heads at the hotel as some business executives who were at the hotel and scores of people who were passing by could be seen taking pictures of the imposing vehicle.

As he walked out of the hotel, Prophet Makandiwa, who has been quoted saying he has bought over 500 cars for pastors from several ministries, went straight behind the wheel and drove off in movie-style with some motorists in hot pursuit.

“This is the manifestation of blessings from God. I go to the Family of God Church, but i admire this man a lot. I just wanted to get close to him,” said one lady who identified herself as Shupikai Muza from Greendale.

“I was having lunch seated next to Makandiwa and I didn’t even realise it was him. It was only after i walked out and I saw people milling around his car that I became curious. I am not very sure but I am a car freak and I know for sure that this Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG was launched a few months ago in Germany.

“As I was busy admiring the car, Makandiwa walked out of the hotel and that’s when I recognised him.

“I took a few pictures of the car and in no time the man drove off. Some people ran after his convoy showering him with all sorts of praise,” said a Harare businessman who refused to be identified.

Information gleaned on the internet shows that the Mercedes Benz 6.0 litre V12 Biturbo can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 4,3 seconds with a top speed of 250km/h. Before buying this latest vehicle, Prophet Makandiwa, who clearly has an expensive taste, was driving a S600 V12.

Just last week, flamboyant businessman Phillip Chiyangwa took delivery of a 2014 GL63 AMG, the first of its kind in Zimbabwe.

He boasted that he had paid US$400 000 for the vehicle and it looks like Prophet Makandiwa has joined this club of expensive drivers.

Meanwhile, the MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has vowed to go ahead with planned street protests to pressure the Zanu PF government to address the country’s economic crisis, saying he would not make political decisions or judgments based on prophecy.

On Tuesday, United Family International Church founder Emmanuel Makandiwa predicted bloodshed in the country and most people took to the social media speculating that the prophecy referred to a harsh police response to MDC-T protests.

But Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka on Thursday said Tsvangirai’s political decisions would not be bound by the prophetic word although the former Premier was a Christian who respected the Man of God.

Tamborinyoka said Makandiwa’s prophecy could be referring to bloody succession wars in President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF.

“President Tsvangirai is a Christian who respects the men of God, but unfortunately, he does not make political judgments or decisions based on prophecy,” he said.

Tsvangirai has visited popular Nigerian prophet and founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Timitope Balogun (TB) Joshua, on a number of occasions.

This week, he extended his condolences to TB Joshua after a guest house of the church collapsed last week, killing 115 people, among them two Zimbabweans.

“After all, the prophecy might not have anything to do with the MDC-T, but could be referring to bloody clashes across the political river,” Tamborinyoka said.

Zanu PF is locked in serious internal fights as factions reportedly linked to Vice-President Joice Mujuru and Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa jostle to position themselves for influential positions ahead of the party’s elective congress in December.

The faction which prevails is likely to have an edge in the race to succeed 90-year-old Mugabe.

Ugly scenes have already been witnessed as the factions clash, with Tsvangirai claiming the internal wars were distracting Zanu PF from fixing the collapsing economy.

Tsvangirai, while addressing party supporters gathered to celebrate the party’s 15th anniversary in Masvingo a fortnight ago, said it was time for action and promised to organise street protests to force Mugabe to be more responsive to the needs of the people.

But before Makandiwa’s prophecy, Tsvangirai’s statements had already been met with mixed feelings, espacially the elite class who are beneficiaries to current economic problems with some saying a confrontational approach would only worsen the situation.

Mugabe had already threatened to deal ruthlessly with such “lawlessness”. Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga has also warned that the army would not sit back in the face of an “insurgency”.

Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo on Thursday said people were quoting Makandiwa out of context. He said Makandiwa prophesied peace and prosperity for Zimbabwe and the issue of bloodshed referred to other countries.

“You are quoting Makandiwa out of context. I listened to him. He said there would be peace and development in the country. He was talking about other countries when he talked about bloodshed,” Gumbo said. The Zimbabwe Mail.com