Is God in Harare only?

BIBLICALLY, Jerusalem has always been significant to Christians because of places there where Jesus ministered and healed people but most importantly, because it is the place where he died on the cross and resurrected.

This is the obvious and simple significance of Jerusalem to the Christian world.

Closer to home, Harare holds a somewhat divine significance with the growth of prosperity churches in every street or township.

Charismatic preachers, faith healers and televangelists in the capital have seen Zimbabweans from all over the country and beyond flocking in search of spiritual healing and deliverance.

This weekend, roads lead to Hararea��s Highfields township where Prophet Sham Hungwe of the anointed pens fame is holding a a�?Big Sundaya�? at the Machipisa Luna Park open space.

His monthly events usually attract about 5 000 people. They could be mistaken for music shows because gospel artistes such as Mathias Mhere entertain the a�?spiritually-hungrya�?.

a�?On Big Sundays there is a spillage. We get around 5 000 people but on ordinary Sundays we have half of that,a�? said Prophet Hungwea��s press team.

Hungwea��s latest publicised miracle was the healing of a womana��s neck growth said to be a�?throat cancera�?.

Literally, a�?gospreneurshipa�? has seen a battle for supremacy raging among charismatic and fairly young modern day prophets who are sending shockwaves with their breathtaking alleged miracles and doctrines of prosperity.

Harare also attracts scores of pastors from countries such as Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This apparently, has led people to ask: Is it a demonstration that God is only at work in Harare?

a�?The reason why people flock to Harare to receive spiritual healing and deliverance is because preachers openly declare they were groomed by West African pastors whom they look up to as spiritual fathers,a�? said a pastor who preferred not to be named for professional reasons.

A fortnight ago, Prophet Hungwe was on a spiritual trip to Nigeria where he is understood to have preached.

a�?The prophet was in Nigeria to do the work of God,a�?A� said his press office.

For example Prophet Walter Magayaa��s spiritual father is Nigeriaa��s Prophet TB Joshua of the Synagogue Church of All Nations and Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa and Prophet Uebert Angela��s spiritual father is Ghanaian Prophet Victor Kusi Boateng.

Ezekiel Makawa, a theology student with a local college said people flocking to Harare for deliverance were being attracted by glossy posters, catch phrases and videos of healed and delivered people who are usually shown live while giving testimonies on their free-to-air satellite televisions.

a�?Some prophets are genuine in their practices but others are very capitalistic. They are not looking for the good of the people but they want to enrich themselves by selling miracles for profit. Yes, miracles can happen, but they should not be sold,a�? said a Bulawayoa��s Prophet Victor Philips.

Some of these new churches exist only to exploit the poor as in the cases of foreign pastors that have been found on the wrong side of the law. Ugandan Pastor Josephs and Prophet Paul Williams were recently arrested for flouting immigration laws and possessing fake passports.

The two were based in Waterfalls, Harare where they were drawing sizeable crowds to Holy Fire Ministries.

Overseer Admire Mango, Prophet Magayaa��s spokesperson defended the new crop of prophets while imploring people to believe in the God of miracles.

a�?This is a gift these prophets were given by God. People didna��t know that God can use the ordinary man to do extraordinary work. For example Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt but he was a shepherd.

a�?He paid attention to Goda��s call when he talked to him through the burning bush and the same is also happening to these men of God like Prophet Magaya, Makandiwa and others who are performing healing miracles which people across the country and beyond are flocking for,a�? said Overseer Mango.