Mugabe to be succeeded by foreign-based Zimbabwean — Makandiwa

By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |

Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa, the leader of the United Family International Church (UFIC) on Sunday claimed that President Robert Mugabe would be succeeded by a Zimbabwean based abroad.

But only if the person would agree to joining opposition politics, said Makandiwa, in a “prophecy” that rules out current Zanu PF aspirants like Emmerson Mnangagwa and the MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.

The claim by Makandiwa during a church service in Harare seems to be pointing at Strive Masiyiwa, the multi-millionaire Econet Wireless founder and owner who was in the past been approached by MDC but shrugged off joining active politics.

Masiyiwa is currently based outside Zimbabwe but is still highly regarded by Zimbabweans for steering one of the leading telecommunication companies in Africa.

Makandiwa told his congregants that he was “seeing a person coming from outside, who was running towards the people of Zimbabwe”.

“This person is running in the opposite direction to people, who are running towards him, I see a spider and this spider is following this person, who is the chosen one to lead the people,” he said.

The “prophecy” is likely to rile Zanu PF insiders with presidential ambitions and Mugabe, who usually reacts angrily to people who suggest a replacement for him.

President Mugabe, 92 and in executive power since 1980, has already said he will contest the 2018 presidential election despite reaching 94 then.

However, his lieutenants are reportedly getting increasingly impatient with his continued hold on power.

Makandiwa told congregants at the same service that Mugabe was in trouble from his treacherous advisers who were deliberately misleading him. Nehanda Radio