Prophet tells Sikhala to dump suits, says Mandela spirit possessing him
Bulawayo based Prophet Blessing Chiza has told Job Sikhala to stop wearing suits and claimed that the former opposition MP was being inspired by the spirit of the late former South African President and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela.
Sikhala, after being released from prison where he served close to two years in pretrial detention over charges of inciting public violence, made several statements quoting Mandela and styling himself as his incarnate.
Sikhala visited Chiza’s Eagle Life Assembly church in Bulawayo on Sunday, where the controversial cleric claimed that the former Zengeza West legislator had received a dream in the form of Mandela’s voice.
He acknowledged the prophet’s guidance that he should avoid wearing suits.
“I am not prophesying, I am interpreting because I don’t want people to say Chiza prophesied, no, it’s a dream.
“When you’re speaking, do you hear the voice of Nelson Mandela coming to you? Sikhala responded: “Yes, prophet, that’s true.”
Chiza added: “Those things happen when a person has been incarcerated for a long time.”
He further instructed Sikhala not to wear his usual suits.
Critics, however, accused Prophet Chiza of misleading Sikhala, describing his alleged prophecy as a scam.
Former cabinet Minister Jonathan Moyo said Chaza’s utterances had no place in serious politics.
“This fraudulent spectacle staged by Prophet Chiza in Bulawayo on Sunday is neither an interpretation of anything, let alone of any dream as claimed, nor a prophecy; it’s a criminal scam, TB Joshua style, and it has no place in serious or progressive politics.
“It must be said that Job Sikhala ought to know better, or he should be better advised.
“In politics, there are some red lines that political leaders who want to be taken seriously by the public in the public domain must not cross, and this kind of outrageous scam is one of those lines.
“Politics is not a religion and has absolutely nothing to do with religion; it is the secular praxis – interactive behaviour- of groups of men and women with shared aspirations in pursuit of political power to execute common interests or objectives through the institutions of government and the state,” he said.
Prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono added his take on the visit saying: “I have seen Job Sikhala’s video when he was in Bulawayo at a church service.
“I have also seen this video of Nelson Chamisa in Bulawayo with the same prophet, in the same church, and at the same Sunday service 5 years ago.
“Zimbabwean politicians go to these churches because they are welcome there, and because that is where their supporters go.
“Zimbabweans will kill you defending these so called prophets or politicians, so it is natural for these politicians to go to these churches.
“You all know my view on these churches which Rwanda banned years ago for exploiting gullible citizens.
“But to persecute Job Sikhala on social media for going there is hypocritical when you all know that he is only one of thousands of politicians who have been there,” Chin’ono added.
