A Goblin in Chinamhora reported to have gone THIRSTY is allegedly demanding human blood every month. Villagers in Muchemhenyi Village under Chief Chinamhora in Shamva are living in fear as the goblin is terrorizing them.
Gideon Austin and wife Amina Munyawo
The Goblin is said to be in the habit of beating the whole household until they lose conscience and start bleeding from the mouth, nose and ears. A five-year old boy has died and villagers are pointing to the goblin which had spent two days terrorizing the boy’s family,
The boy, who lived at his maternal grandfather’s homestead with his parents, is believed to have been mysteriously attacked by the goblin early last week and suffered convulsions as he bled from the nostrils and ears.
The father of the boy, Gideon Austin, was still in shock as he narrated what transpired on the fateful day. His whole family including the mother and their 3 year old daughter are alleged to have also been attacked by the goblin on the same date as they also suffered the same convulsions.
“My son bled from both his mouth and ears and as I was taking him to the nearest traditional healer to consult, my wife also fell to the ground and bled the same way.
“My wife was accompanying me to the traditional healer as she was holding our daughter. Before I could really understand what was going on, my daughter was also attacked by the same goblin.
“What puzzles me most is that all of this happened at my father-in-law’s homestead who was at home when this happened but he didn’t seem to be moved by any of this as he continued to chat with his friend as if nothing had happened,” he narrated.
Magaret Kumbirai and Funny Muchemhenyi the village headman
Gideon, who was employed as a gardener in Mt Pleasant, said he suffered from convulsions before and was taken to the hospital by his employer.
“I had just come back home from Harare where I had been working but my employer advised me to stop work after the mysterious attack. I bled from the nostrils and ears and it seems as if the same goblin had even followed me to Harare,” he said.
Gideon said he had to call the neighbours to assist him and that’s when a faith healer came to the house.
“When the faith healer came he prayed and sprinkled salt on my children and their mother. That’s when both my wife and daughter woke up but my son didn’t make it,” he said.
The mother to the boy reiterated that she was still in shock and is yet to come to terms with the death of her son, she also said:
“A traditional healer we all consulted with the whole family including my father demanded that my father should pay with three cows so that the home can be cleansed.
“Baba vakaudzwa kuti chinhu chakadya mwana vakatobvumawo kuti vabetserwe kuchibvisa mumusha. We have since left his home as we are now living in fear,” said Amina Munyawo.
Funny Muchemhenyi the village headman expressed shock about the boy’s death as he noted that people in the village were now living in fear. Yasini Chemasongori (Chapomba)-the father-in-law- was adamant and said people should stop accusing him of things that he doesn’t know. H Metro
The MDC-T primary elections and the confirmation processes were successfully held in Masvingo and Manicaland provinces over the weekend and below are the results of the exercise:
Masvingo Province
Gutu Central – Hon. Oliver Chirume, not confirmed
Gutu North – Hon. Edmore Maramwidze Hamandishe, confirmed
Gutu East – Hon. Ransome Makamure, confirmed
Gutu South Constituency -Eriam Msendekwa won the primary election.
Gutu West – Philip Bohwasi Manyanye won the primary election.
Bikita South – Hon. Janhi Varandeni
Bikita West – Hon. Heya Shoko, confirmed.
Zaka East – James Gumbi won uncontested
Zaka West – Hon. Festus Dumbu, confirmed
Zaka Central – Hon. Harrison Mudzuri, not confirmed
Chivi Central -Dr Tapiwa Murambi won the primary elections
Chivi North- Bernard Chiondegwa won the primary elections
Chivi South – Xavier Wamambo won the primary elections
Masvingo Urban – Hon. Tongai Matutu, confirmed
Masvingo Central – Allan Moyo won the primary elections
Masvingo West – Takanayi Mureyi won uncontested
Masvingo South – pending
Masvingo North – Noble Farai Mugabe won the primary elections
Chiredzi West – Hon. Moses Mare – not confirmed
Chiredzi North – Josphat Chapfidza won the primary elections
Chiredzi South – Tsumele Partick won the primary elections
Chiredzi East – Sure Makuni won the primary elections
Mwenezi East –Philip Marufu won the primary elections
Mwenezi West – Innocent Nsingo won the primary elections
Zaka North – pending
Bikita East – pending
Manicaland Province
Musikavanhu – Hon. Prosper Mutseyami, confirmed
Makoni West- Hon. Webber Chinyadza, confirmed
Mutasa South – pending
Dangamvura/ Chikanga – pending
Mutare North – pending
Chimanimani East – Issac Sithole won the primary elections
Buhera West – pending
Chipinge South – Hon. Meki Makuyana
Headlands- David Tekeshe won the primary election
Mutare West- Hon Shuah Mudiwa, confirmed
Buhera North – Julius Magarangoma won the primary elections
Chipinge West – Hon. Sibonile Nyamudeza, confirmed
Mutasa Central – Hon. Trevor Saruwaka uncontested
Chimanimani West – Hon. Lynette Karenyi-Kore, uncontested
Mutare Central – Hon. Innocent Gonese, confirmed
Buhera South – Hon. Naison Nemadziwa
Buhera Central – Hon. Matimba Tagwara
Mutasa North – Hon. David Chimhini, uncontested
Nyanga North – Hon. Douglas Mwonzora, uncontested
Mutare South- Robert Saunyama won the primary elections
Makoni South – Hon. Pishai Muchauraya confirmed
Makoni Central – pending
Makoni North- Hon. Elton Mangoma, uncontested
Chipinge Central – pending
Chipinge East – Hon. Matheo Mlambo, uncontested
Nyanga South – Hon. Willard Chimbetete, uncontested
Admire Jinga who was found guilty of fraudulently selling products he claimed could kill Aids pictured leaving court in Belfast. Pic: Presseye
Admare Jinga used his base in Belfast to set up a company which advertised and distributed devices overseas, particularly to parts of his native Zimbabwe ravaged by the disease.
Admire Jinga who was found guilty of fraudulently selling products he claimed could kill Aids pictured leaving court in Belfast. Pic: Presseye
The 31-year-old University of Ulster graduate was found guilty of fraud by false representation.
He had already pleaded guilty to a second charge of marketing medicines for human use without proper authorisation. Jinga, who now lives in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, will be sentenced next month.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard he established a company Savec Healthcare Ltd in 2007 while living in the south of the city. Up until 2009 it marketed products as alternative forms of treatment for the HIV infection.
They claimed to be able to kill, prevent or stop Aids, according to the prosecution. One of them, the Omnivir Nano Aerosol, was produced by infusing oxygen canisters with a quantity of nano silver.
Jinga’s company also sold a device called the High Care Machine – an anti-wrinkle device he claimed had been adapted by the use of microcurrents. A prosecution lawyer told the court it effectively just burnt the skin.
Jinga was said to have paid Google £10 a month to ensure his website came up top when anyone searched for a cure for Aids. After a range of customers gave evidence against him, Jinga took the stand to defend the fraud charge against him.
He said he became involved with pharmacists, a microbiologist and other Zimbabwean professionals concerned with the impact of HIV in their country.
“We claim the products kill HIV. On the website we never mentioned we are curing HIV,” he insisted.
Jinga also argued that no complaints were ever received from those who used his products.
He added: “All these people go for viral tests every three months. Not a single person after having their checks complained to us it didn’t work for them.
“If they had complained we would have given them a refund.”
But finding him guilty of the offence, Judge Nixon said: “On the basis of the evidence I have heard I’m entirely satisfied as to the dishonest and fraudulent acts of this defendant.”
Jinga was told that he is at risk of being sent to jail for the crimes. His barrister, Paul Bacon, urged the judge to consider the intentions of his client, a mechanical engineer specialising in nanotechnology.
“His motivation seems to be that where he comes from there is a massive epidemic of HIV and Aids-related illness,” the lawyer said.
“He centred his business around that.”
Mr Bacon added that he has now shifted his focus to nutritional supplements. Ordering Jinga to return for sentencing in six weeks time, Judge Nixon pointed out: “Because of his clear record he is not going to the cells and custody immediately.” Belfast Telegraph
Tsvangirai will undoubtedly win the next election if by either show of hands or secret ballot the will of the people and their preference is accurately recorded.
Mugabe vs Tsvangirai
Put simply Mugabe is a weaker candidate and many important factors influence that reality including that Mugabe’s own age and ancient politics can no longer appeal to an increasingly younger ambitious, expectant and globally connected population.
Mugabe and his Zanu PF have been such a disaster it is impossible to overlook the trail of destruction that has resulted from what has been a backward looking, corrupt, out of touch, brutal police state and party that lacks innovation and interest in the welfare and progress of its people.
Even against Mugabe’s own discredited legacy, winning an election is one thing and taking over the responsibility and powers to govern is another- which is where Tsvangirai’s reaction to the constitutional court decision is to be located and analysed.
An election is a political process and is never only a matter of legal principles alone.
An election overlooking a transitional situation is more a matter of complex politics for the sake of stability and continuity and managing such an election must reflect cautious calculation and wisdom in light of the political developments that preceded and necessitated coalition government and the global political agreement. The interpretation of law remains, however, and fashionably so, a matter for the courts.
Two important issues arise from the ruling of the constitutional court regards setting a date for the holding of our elections by July 2013.
Firstly if Mugabe and Tsvangirai agree to extend their tenure and run the country without any mandate that could be a potentially dangerous precedent and the court cannot sanction an illegal act.
Tsvangirai is politically and morally wrong to suggest that a country can be governed illegitimately and is also wrong in stating that the court acted outside the scope of its statutory and constitutional duty in interpreting a question of law.
The second important aspect is about the election process itself as a political necessity by which society expresses its leadership preferences in an orderly fashion. Elections are there for a reason. They are not mock shows. Elections must be orderly and credible. The credibility of an election is a matter of law.
An election in which the prospect of a fair vote is undermined by threats of violence against the winners and their supporters by state institutions cannot be a free and fair election and is also therefore a matter of law for which the courts have a duty to act including pre-emptively to protect fundamental constitutional rights.
Our state security institutions have undermined the place of elections within our politics by threatening to veto by use of force the will of our electorate if Mugabe should lose. A vote is a constitutional right protected by the constitution of Zimbabwe.
Individual votes by an electorate to vote a certain person into power creates a constitutional right for those individual people to have that elected candidate in the position they have elected him/her into.
If from the onset the state through any of its institutions puts the exercise of the constitutional right to vote into doubt it must be accepted that an infringement of that right has occurred and until that position is changed that constitutional right continues to suffer and any such election cannot be said to be free or fair.
In saying that, the case brought by a Mr Mawarire laid down quite correctly that there is no place for an illegitimate government.
The court addressed, however, in a very narrow sense illegitimacy brought about by extending the tenure of this government by agreement between politicians for mere mutual accommodation without opening its eyes to voter manipulation,intimidation,misinformation by state actors as a basis upon which an election ceases to be in accordance with the constitution of our land.
The army and police have repeatedly threatened the constitutional right to vote by proclaiming that these state institutions will not accept a vote that does not allow President Mugabe to remain in power.
President Mugabe is the commander- in- chief and these institutions which are under his direct authority have publicly undermined the election process by warning, intimidating and creating apathy among by declaring that no other person will rule Zimbabwe except President Mugabe irrespective of the outcome of the election.
The only meaning of this is that the constitutional right to vote which carries with it the right of the voter to have the person who is elected in the position he is elected has both potentially and actually suffered.
This is where Tsvangirai’s message comes to life about the need for media and security reform ahead of the elections as a precondition to a credible election. It must be common sense that unless an election is credible there is nothing in law that justifies it.
Elections are a serious constitutional business for state and the citizen. Elections are not held for the primary purpose of the state to meet its legal obligations but rather and more importantly for the citizen to exercise a rare but fundamental right to choose the policies to which he/she is attracted and persuaded.
The emphasis is therefore not on dates and time-frames but importantly on the freedom within, and fairness of, the process.
The question we must come back to is one of fundamental importance in light of the ongoing debate about the appropriateness of holding an election by July.
Is there sufficient guarantee that if Mugabe loses the police and army will allow the winner to assume the position of state president as would wish the electorate participating in these elections?
Mugabe’s own sub-ordinates have clearly stated that this is not possible. In view of that how does one justify the holding of an election in which the army and police have openly declared that any other winner will not rule except Mugabe?
As pointed out before this is a matter for the constitutional court as there is direct infringement to the constitutional right to vote and a potential infringement to the right to be governed by a legitimate government.
Mr Mawarire has a right to a legitimate government but we have a constitutional right to a free and fair election which includes a right to know for certain that our vote will count and whoever wins will rule on our behalf.
Mr Chiwenga and Mr Chihuri are not private persons when they speak in uniform and whilst they hold the important security posts they occupy.
From their lips we are continuously reminded that votes do not count,elections do not matter,and we are stuck with Robert Gabriel Mugabe even if he wins or loses this election.
That to me is far beyond a matter of security reforms. A criminal offence has been committed. An office has been abused but importantly the prospect of a meaningful,credible election is no longer present.
The constitutional right to vote has suffered and the election is neither necessary nor is the judgement of 22 May 2013 of any sense or logic unless the promise to subvert the will of the electorate ceases to be a reality through practical tangible reform including the dismissal of all who have brought about this constitutional crisis.
We have a constitutional crisis as the votes of millions of our people will be at the mercy of the army and police. There is nothing in the constitution that provides for Mugabe through his sub-ordinates or appointments to subvert the will of the electorate.
That is the big constitutional question which the courts must now answer..Mawarire or the rest of us.
The Zimbabwe Achievers Awards is the pinnacle of celebration of talent, art, business, expression and achievement in the Zimbabwean community throughout a broad spectrum of genres.
Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda
The Z.A.A aims to recognise the commitment to excellence, creativity, innovation and dedication of those Zimbabweans who have continued to expand on their talents and skill-sets at a global leadership level.
To date the ZAA has showcased Zimbabweans who have made significant global impact in business, health, conservation and environment but more significantly, champions who have leveraged their global influence to empower the grassroots, especially women and children.
The ZAA is therefore proud of the achievements of Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda which include
· Pursuing the core mandate of UN Women for more than 20 years, and engaged with women and youth organizations and civil society at grassroots level
· Serving with UNICEF, UNIFEM and the various UN Commissions where she gained insight into the workings of the multi-lateral systems in the United Nations.
· High-level leadership at the International Conference for the Great Lakes which saw her integrating gender equality and women’s rights. She led the peace negotiations for Sudan and Somalia, as well as in the ICPD Plus 20 and post MDG agenda. She therefore has the gravitas to engage politically and diplomatically with member states at the political and technical levels
· Demonstrating her negotiation skills in advancing the normative framework for women’s rights and empowerment exemplified in the development of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on Women’s Rights in Africa, the CEDAW implementation, the engagement with UN Commission on Status of Women.
· Engaging strategically (at UNIFEM and World YWCA) with bilateral donors, such as Norway, Sweden, Australia; as well as with private foundations and women’s funds and individuals in mobilizing resources. She has also engaged with the aid effectiveness agenda including the Paris Principles and the Busan agenda on resourcing for gender equality.
· Global hands-on knowledge of issues facing women, while managing multi-cultural teams from such regions as Europe, the Americans, Asia, the Pacific and Caribbean.
Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda has exemplified that rare quality of demonstrating creative strategic leadership of very complex global organizations whilst ensuring that there bring pragmatic and sustainable interventions at the local level.
The ZAA panel is confident that, if appointed to the role of Director General UN-Women, Nyaradzayi will bring her wealth of experience in managing complex multi-cultural relationships and networks to bring greater strategic leadership focus.
If there is one thing that’s becoming increasingly clear each passing day-it is that Zanu (PF)’s days are numbered. Their time is up. The panic level is unbelievable and yes, the once invincible organization is slowly but surely easing out of power.
Mugabe dozes off during a meeting
Events of the past few weeks have exposed a badly fractured organization that is teetering on the brink of collapse.
Never before has national and regional sentiment being so much against the erstwhile ruling party. Regional leaders are fed-up with Mugabe’s intransigence and the temperatures are rising within his own party.
Mr. Mugabe is slowly but surely losing the firm grip he once had on the party and indeed government. The party is in total disarray that it hasn’t come up with a formula for selecting primary election candidates with weeks to go to an election.
Forget all the posturing by the nutty professor Moyo.Things are not well in the party. To an extent that you have their partisan Chief Justice Chidyausiku declaring ‘due-by’ date for elections, a date that’s now clearly at odds with his party superiors.
There is no way the Concourt (or whatever it’s called) would have come up with that July 31st date without first ‘consulting’ with the securocrats behind the scenes.
And that very same judgment has put the goons in a corner, a very tight one in that other factions within the party have no appetite for an early election-they know defeat is coming come rain or sunshine.
Which betrays the level of factionalism that is now obtaining in the party? It’s no longer Mugabe only calling the shots but a few other players behind the scenes.
Whilst it is now an open secret that Zanu (PF) is bluffing about an early election (since the birth of the GNU)-considering the aforementioned reasons, it will be a disaster for the MDC camp to take their threats/declarations lightly.
The horse is badly injured and limping but it is at this moment that it’s very dangerous and ruthless too. It’s highly unpredictable and as evidenced by the unrepentant Moyo’s tone in the state media they are willing to fight the masses of Zimbabwe to the wire.
It is against this background that background that I wish to encourage PM Tsvangirai and the people of Zimbabwe to remain vigilant and focused for victory is at hand and we just need to keep eyes on the ball.
As our leader in fighting this tyranny, PM Tsvangirai should be clear and inspiring-unwavering in his communication to the people of Zimbabwe.
Premature calls for a boycott do not particularly help inspire the long suffering people currently participating in the voter registration exercise. That threat could have been reserved for that phone call to regional leaders. We cannot afford to go back to 2008.
The people have suffered enough and only a large voter turnout will erase those memories of 2008 and condemn Zanu (PF) to the history books where it belongs.
Kudos to the party of excellence for conducting an almost flawless primary election exercise. You do not need to have dined with ‘Baba Jukwa’ to tell which party is ready for elections now. It’s as clear as the difference between day and night.
The party needs to remain vigilant at this point and continue inspiring the young voters- especially 1st time voters to go out and register in their numbers. This will make rigging particularly difficult for the thugs currently running ZEC disguised as impartial officials.
Boycotting the election on the basis of a skewed media, biased and partisan security sector will be naïve and suicidal in my opinion. ZANU (PF) is waiting for this.
It has maintained its grip on these critical areas since the 2008 GPA talks and I do not see them willingly relenting and giving equal space to all parties within weeks to a watershed election. Let’s be realistic here.
Undoing an archaic system that’s been in place since 1980 will require more than regional pressure. It requires an election victory with a huge voter turnout!
They are not stupid and the longer the bickering over such reforms takes the better it serves them. They are in no hurry to have elections as I said earlier. Meanwhile, they will continue to loot at Chiadzwa and loot what else is left of our beloved Zimbabwe’s resources.
The long suffering people unfortunately do not have such a luxury-they continue to lose loved ones due to otherwise treatable ailments, they continue to struggle daily to put food on their tables.
The writer wishes to be clear in that he is all in support of media reforms, a non-partisan security sector that is subordinate to civilian leadership as is expected of any modern democracy. I am not underestimating this in any shape or form but we are dealing with goons here with a known track record.
This is the hand we have been dealt, let’s play it!
Moreso, the Zimbabwe population is mostly decided-we do not have undecided voters here sitting on the fence-who would benefit immensely from the MDC having equal space with Zanu (PF) in the State Media. We crossed that stage a few years ago.
People now know the lies about ‘sanctions’, about Britain and Western powers’ so –called interference in our internal affairs. Even threats of a coup orchestrated by the hardline generals after a Tsvangirai victory are a bit far-fetched the writer thinks. All eyes are on Zimbabwe this time and the region will not acquiesce to such a situation.
It is against this background that energies should be mainly directed towards a Grand Coalition and not risk splitting the vote this time.
A Tsvangirai-Dabengwa-Makoni alliance will bolster chances of a 1st round victory and even soften the junta’s stance towards Tsvangirai (Dabengwa is more senior than most if not all the military guys around and knows the security apparatus well).
Welshman Ncube can go back to the Law Faculty at UZ as he suffers from serious delusions of grandeur. He is not worth the effort.
After all is said-one thing remains clear-ZANU(PF)’s days are numbered-it is how PM Tsvangirai’s party will respond to its scare tactics that will determine if Zimbabwe will remain trapped in the 20th century or join the community of nations surging ahead into the future.
God Bless Zimbabwe!
Tatenda Kunaka, is a Zimbabwean student based in Dallas, Texas. He can be contacted on [email protected]
“The god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of many –instead of worshipping the Creator they have gone after the creatures.”
Imagine you are living in the days of the Biblical Prophet Isaiah and you are one of the devout worshippers of the time. On a typical day of worship you are in the large temple together with scores of other worshippers.
Learnmore Zuze
The temple is filled to capacity and a couple of people have had to stand outside the temple. All the worshippers are waiting for the arrival of Prophet Isaiah. A narrow red carpet stretches from the temple door to the pulpit.
Outside the temple, a top-of-the-range horse-powered chariot arrives and a heavily guarded Prophet Isaiah sits comfortably in the chariot being chauffeured. As the iron chariot nears the temple entrance there is jostling to catch a glimpse of the man of God.
The chariot stops at the entrance and dozens of security personnel disembark from white horses wielding swords and start shoving away the crowd.
The prophet slowly disembarks from the chariot clad in a long and shiny robe. He also spots a glittering gold ring. The glamorous Isaiah is flanked by aides and body guards. One can easily mistake his arrival for a king’s arrival given the splendor and security.
The prophet then enters the temple to a deafening roar of appreciation as believers kneel down before him. Question: Do you honestly think the Biblical prophet Isaiah’s conduct was anything near this imaginary scenario? Could Prophet Isaiah have worn expensive garments?
Did he possibly dress in fine apparel? Could he have been chauffeured in a chariot? Might he have worn a gold ring? Would he let worshippers kneel down before him? Was he escorted by bodyguards? That certainly does not sound like the conduct of a Biblical prophet.
However, this exact scenario is precisely the order of the day at today’s prophet-led churches the world over. I tried to imagine prophet Isaiah doing the same but I failed. Foremost, I failed to picture a true prophet of God allowing any one to kneel down before them.
There has been a sharp rise in the number of people calling themselves or at least being called prophets and thousands of people have wondered after them. I am glad that the Bible does not leave us without the means to identify a true prophet of God.
Currently, Harare alone has an estimated fifty-one prophet-led churches. That means Harare alone has fifty-one prophets not to mention well-known prophets in other parts of the country. Come to think of it, if Israel, an entire (chosen) nation could only be allocated one prophet at a time, what of Zimbabwe?
Does it mean our land has suddenly become more blessed as to receive an avalanche of prophets?
Touch not my Anointed
I am one person who believes in standing for the truth even if it means standing alone. Militant followers of today’s prophets are quick to demonize and vilify anyone who speaks to the contrary.
It is my personal conviction that, “Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm.”(1 Chronicles 16:22) is the most abused verse of our time. The ‘Lord’s anointed’, is a reference to the kings and prophets of the nation of Israel.
When they were a few in number and strangers they wandered from one nation to another, God permitted no one to do them wrong and rebuked kings for their sakes, saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.”(1 Chron16:19,20,21).
In this highly abused Scripture, God protected His anointed (Israel) and His prophets from the enemies of Israel from inflicting physical harm on them. The word touch in fact means physical harm. I really pray for the day when zealous followers of the New Age prophets will understand this verse in its context.
The mention of prophets is used exclusively in the Old Testament. No apostle in the New Testament ever ran away from scrutiny of his teaching or conduct by saying, ‘Touch not’. In fact, Paul actually praised the men of Berea for checking whatever he taught.
I will devote a whole article to the verse. Most of the so called anointed teachers have protection from their followers whose minds they have trained to repel anything new. Failure to tell people to search the Scriptures and expose false teaching is abdication of responsibility for any apostle of God.
Therefore, unless someone is speaking the Word correctly, they are not teaching the truth and it does not matter if they call themselves anointed, they are misleading and we have a duty to tell.
Verses like, “Judge not…” (Matt 7:1) have become defense lines for people engaging in abhorrent practices hiding behind the name of Jesus Christ. But I am glad that we have full backing from the Bible which allows us to test the prophets.
The Bible instructs us not to believe every spirit but to “…test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone into the world.”(1 John 4:1).I covered a great deal of this work in a book entitled ‘Identifying God’s true prophets.’
A true prophet has to be in complete harmony with Biblical teaching.
Humility
Contrary to flamboyance, one characteristic of God’s true prophets was humility. God’s prophets were simple men who were easily accessible. You did not need to be one of the highest tithe-payers to get a front row seat in the synagogue.
They needed no guards nor did they bother living in expensive luxury. Biblical prophets are depicted as people whose hearts and lifestyles were far removed from the things of the world. In fact, they labored for God to turn back people from the love of the world.
They had no business predicting people’s identity numbers or addresses. They received messages from God which concerned the entire nation not personal you-will-own-a-house prophecies. They were not mere foretellers.
As for John the Baptist whom the Bible recognizes as the greatest of them all, he stayed in the wild and never performed any known miracle. Prophet Elijah lived in a forest for close to three years and had to be fed by ravens (1Kings17:3, 4).
For three years Prophet Isaiah walked in sack-cloth on bare foot as a sign against Egypt and Cush (Isa 20:3). Even more, a prophet does not choose his life; it is laid out by God.
A true messenger of God exalts Jesus Christ and humbles himself. Apostle Peter downplayed himself when he healed a cripple at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:12). Instead of taking the glory which the crowd sought to give him he refused, instead choosing to exalt Christ.
What Peter displayed is a quality not to be found in today’s prophets who love the glory and honor. Even their churches are identified by their names. The fact that a stranger can tell you the directions to your home and predict soccer match outcomes hardly makes them a prophet.
Biblical Prophets led humble servant-like lifestyles.
On the contrary, today’s prophets are champions in loving things of the world and teaching the same. Talk of sleek cars, leafy suburbs and expensive garments! They have acquired wealth and gathered expensive fortune for themselves through an earthly-focused gospel.
They pride themselves for performing miracles.
A day spent at these churches will leave you thinking that poverty and not sin is at the center of the fight between God and Satan. Luke 15:7 tells us that “… there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents…” not over the acquiring of wealth of one poor man.
Biblical prophets detested showy tendencies and upheld the principle of humility. Christ is an embodiment of humility; he was equal to God in every sense yet he strongly warned the people he healed against telling the world but today’s prophets jostle to claim glory and media attention for ‘their’ miracles.
The act of kneeling
What of the common practice of kneeling down before the ‘men of God’?
Apostle John, after having been shown visions by an angel of God fell on his knees to worship it but the angel quickly stopped him from kneeling saying, “…Do not do it! I am a fellow-servant with you and with your brothers the prophets…” (Rev 19:10).
Now, if the powerful angel Gabriel does not deserve to have people kneeling down before him, what of a mere human being? The truth is: If you kneel down before any person or angel and they do not stop you from the act then you have definitely worshipped a spirit other than that of God.
Brethren, do not be deceived; there is no name in Heaven and on earth beneath given unto man that we should kneel down before except the name of Jesus Christ. The act of kneeling has got only one clear Biblical interpretation.
The act of kneeling is the ultimate show of worship. It is a show of submission to God’s incomparable supremacy. People may try to sugar-coat this blasphemous practice to mean respect but the Biblical truth stands clear for all to see.
Philippians notes that only Jesus Christ was given a name above every name such “…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth…” (Phil 2:9, 10). Ask yourself, which Biblical prophet had people kneeling down before him?
Prophets aside, even an angel of God commits a serious sin if it lets anyone kneel down before it. In all Biblical history, no angel and no true man of God ever let anyone kneel down before them. We are fellow servantsbefore God.
Even Satan knows too well what kneeling means hence he said to Jesus, “All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me” (Matt 3; 9). It is amazing how the devil has twisted the minds of people not to see things plainly revealed in Scripture.
Thousands upon thousands of people today have become members of cults disguised as Christian churches. God is calling his children out of human worship; it is a form of idolatry which our jealous God detests passionately hence he made it the first of his Commandments to desist from other gods.
Kneeling down is no simple matter as naïve followers are made to believe; in Christian history, many martyrs have died by the sword for refusing to kneel down for a human being.
A misleading definition of a prophet
Today’s definition of a prophet is highly misleading and foremost responsible for the blasphemous practices rife in today’s churches. The world today defines a prophet as anyone who can foretell future events. This is dangerous because pharaoh’s magicians and soothsayers where experts at this practice.
Predicting of the future is also Satan’s specialty as evidenced in the Bible account in which apostles Paul and Silas met a slave girl “…who had a spirit by which she predictedthe future”(Acts 16:16) yet she was led by an evil spirit.
The Bible actually records that she made a lot of money through predicting the future just like we are witnessing today. Brethren, prophets of God are not simply anyone who can predict the future.
Zecharia puts it in the clear that a prophet is a servant of God who speaks forth the words and commands that he or she receives from God.(Zech 1;6).Also, according to second Peter 1;21 a prophet speaks for God as he or she is moved by the Holy Spirit.
In other words, a prophet does not speak anything of his own but that which he or she receives from the Lord. A prophet does not express what is in his own thoughts but simply expresses the mind of God to the people.
A prophet acts as a mouthpiece of Godto men “…for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort (1 Cor 14:3). Question: do you honestly think Almighty God above and his Heavenly host would sit a council to deliver a prophecy concerning an AFCON final soccer match to the people?
Honestly, do you think a prophet who predicts a soccer match result is expressing God’s mind to the people? Surely, how does foretelling the death of a prominent person strengthen or comfort the church? How about a prophet who prophecies a bumper harvest for a tobacco farmer?
What of a prophet who allows people to kneel down before him against all Biblical evidence? How about a prophet who boasts of his ability to predict passport numbers? You have surely seen newspaper advertisements with the inscription, ‘The only prophet in Zimbabwe who can tell your correct identity number.’
Surely, these men can’t be expressing the mind of God to the people. This I say without fear or bias. Yes, they may work signs and wonders; they may have thousands following after them but Biblically they stand way off the mark.
Remember Jesus Christ advised that one key indicator of the last days is the rise of false prophets who will deceive many (Matt 24:11).
The Bible declares that before the coming of the Lord, Satan will work, with all power “…in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and lying wonders and in every sought of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”(2 Thessalonians 1:9).
Sooner or later Christ comes to take those who have not been defiled with human worship. The Lord’s battle cry today is for his people to come out of this great deception and repent for Jesus is coming quickly.
Choose whom you will kneel down for this day, as for me and my household we will worship the Lord of Heaven.
This is the last hour. Take heed that no one deceives you.
In the next article I will be discussing the key ways of identifying a true prophet of God.
Learnmore Zuze is an author and speaker and can be e-mailed at [email protected]
The 30 day mobile voter registration exercise begun on Monday in various centres around Zimbabwe. Please find attached the locations of the mobile registration units have been published by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and the Registrar General’s Office.
The purpose of this note is to explain why the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act cannot be used to enact amendments to the Electoral Act. Any thoughts to make use this draconian piece of law should be abandoned.
Alex Magaisa
The Herald on 10th June 2013 reported that President Mugabe “may have to invoke his powers as enshrined in the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act Chapter 10:20 and ensure that amendments to the Electoral Act, set to be discussed in Cabinet tomorrow, are quickly passed to comply with the July 31 election deadline”.
Amendments only by Act of Parliament
The first reason is that in terms of s. 157 of the new Constitution, mandatory amendments to the Electoral Act can only be effected by an Act of Parliament and regulations made under the Presidential Powers Act do not qualify as an Act of Parliament. An “Act of Parliament” is specifically and clearly defined in s. 131 (2) of the new Constitution as:
“a Bill which has been –
(a) presented in and passed by both Houses of Parliament; and
(b) assented to and signed by the President in accordance with this Constitution”
As the preamble to the Presidential Powers Act confirms, it allows the President to make regulations but not to enact an Act of Parliament.
It is a unilateral declaration of a law by the President probably in consultation with the Minister of Justice but certainly it would not have been presented or passed by both Houses of Parliament.
The net effect of this is that since it is mandatory under s. 157 to provide for specific amendments as outlined in that provision by an “Act of Parliament”, these changes cannot be done by the President acting alone without Parliament by virtue of the Presidential Powers Act.
Although s. 2(2) of the Presidential Powers Act allows regulations to “provide for any matter or thing for which Parliament can make provision in an Act” this cannot be done to provide for “for any other matter or thing which the Constitution requires to be provided for by, rather than in terms of, an Act”
As we have observed, s. 157 of the Constitution specifically provides that certain things like the system of proportional representation, the code of conduct for political parties, the elections of representatives of persons with disabilities, the conduct of elections to provincial and metropolitan councils and local authorities must be provided for by an Act of Parliament.
These things are provided for not “in terms of” an Act but “by” an Act of Parliament and are not things where the regulations under the Presidential Powers Act can replace an Act of Parliament.
Powers under the Presidential Powers Act operate “subject to” the Constitution
Section 2 of the Presidential Powers Act which deals with situations in which the powers to make regulations may be invoked operates “subject to the Constitution”.
In other words, powers provided for under the Presidential Powers Act have to conform and take into account the Constitution’s provisions which are superior.
As we have already observed, the Constitution specifically provides that primary law making powers cannot be delegated by Parliament and making amendments to the Electoral Law as provided for under s. 157 of the new Constitution can only be done through primary legislation.
The President cannot therefore issue regulations under the Presidential Powers Act to achieve what should be done through primary legislation, i.e. an Act of Parliament.
Furthermore, in terms of s. 134 (a) of the new Constitution, only Parliament has the power to make primary legislation and an Act of Parliament through which amendments must be made is primary legislation. S. 134 (a) provides that,
“Parliament’s primary law-making power must not be delegated”.
The Presidential Powers Act only confers authority to make regulations and primary legislation and it also excludes certain primary laws that the regulations cannot replace. As s. 134 (a) confirms, Parliament cannot delegate its primary law making powers.
Therefore, to any extent that the Presidential Powers Act represents a delegation of Parliament’s primary law making power, even if is for a temporary period, it is arguable that the Presidential Powers Act no longer meets the test of constitutionality.
Double Standards over use of the Presidential Powers Act
Applying the Presidential Powers Act to amend the Electoral Act would be the height of hypocrisy and double-standards.
One of the reasons cited in the Constitutional Court judgment in the Mawarire case, compliance with which is a ground upon which the use of the Presidential Powers Act is being justified, was that unless elections were held by 29 June 2013 when Parliament automatically expires, the President would start ruling by decree.
This was deemed to be a good reason enough to set a deadline for the elections and arguments have been advanced that the President does not want to rule by decree and wants to promote constitutionalism.
The irony of proposing to use the very same Presidential Powers Act even while Parliament is still in existence is lost on the proponents of this course of action.
Surely, if it is wrong to use the Presidential Powers Act in its current form after the expiry of Parliament, it must be wrong to use it now or at any other time.
It is impossible to reconcile these two positions: on the one hand, that it is wrong to let the President rule by decree using the Presidential Powers Act after the elections and on the other hand, that it is perfectly right for the President to make a decree to enact electoral law amendments using the reviled Presidential Powers Act. Anywhere in the world that would be called double-standards.
Conclusion
While the Presidential Powers Act benefits from the presumption of constitutionality until repealed or amended by Parliament or declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court it is arguable that if used it can be challenged and it is unlikely to pass the constitutionality test unless the adjudicating judicial authority is compromised.
The law usurps the power of Parliament to make primary laws in a manner that offends constitutionalism and democratic principles. It is the epitome of concentration of powers in the executive arm of Government.
The effect of regulations under the Presidential Powers Act is to override any other laws to the contrary, which make the President overly dominant and over-bearing toward Parliament.
Such a situation is untenable and cannot pass the constitutionality test under the new Constitution given that the making of primary legislation is in the exclusive domain of Parliament.
To the extent that it allows the President to, in effect, make regulations that are tantamount to primary law for a period of 6 months, it essentially renders Parliament ineffective and that is totally contrary to what the new Constitution promotes.
The most critical thing about the next election is the legitimacy of the result. This depends on, among other things, the credibility of the processes leading up to and during elections.
There is need to build consensus through consultations to ensure that everyone goes into the election understanding that the process is fair, transparent and democratic.
Unilateralism and resorting to patently draconian legislation such as the Presidential Powers Act does little to protect the credibility and legitimacy of the election process.
Dr Alex T Magaisa is the political advisor to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
A Harare magistrate today refused to further remand a case in which the Election Resource Centre was being charged with conducting voter education without the approval of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
ERC director Tawanda Chimhini
The state had applied for deferment of the case to the 17th of June 2013 after the state witness Mr. Chidhakuza from ZEC failed to turn up for the court hearing.
The magistrate argued that it would be unfair to the accused to be further remanded as the state had an obligation to put its house in order the minute it decided to lay charges against the organization.
The state would proceed by way of summons if it wishes.
The state holds that the Election Resource Centre, represented by the Director Tawanda Chimhini violated the Electoral Court (Section 40; sub section 1g) by distributing voter awareness material in the form of the t-shirts and fliers during the first phase of the mobile voter registration campaign, without approval from the ZEC.
Three ERC personel, Moses Chikora, Farai Saugweme and Wadzanai Nyakudya were arrested in May as they conducted X1G mobile caravans. The caravans were aimed at encouraging young people to register as voters.
The defense lawyer, Mr. Tonderai Bhatasara of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights had put before the court that the first accused (Tawanda Chimhini) is a juristic person – Election Resource Centre and requires the matter to be dealt with expeditiously so that it is able to effectively carry out its mandate and objectives relating to election observation and advisory.
Mr. Bhatasara then submitted that the matter should proceed.
The state then appealed for more time to subpoena the State witness, and applied to have the matter deferred to the 17th of June 2013, which the Magistrate refused and ordered the state to proceed by way of summons.
The Election Resource Centre says it remains committed to servicing the electoral needs of Zimbabweans, including mobilizing youth to register as voters.
