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Last year’s UFIC all night prayer held around the same time, attracted about 70 000 people and more are expected this year. People are expected to start streaming to the venue as early as tomorrow morning to secure “strategic” seating positions.
When Prophet Makandiwa made the announcement 33 days ago that the Lord told him to, “gather my people on this particular night from every corner and… tell my people that I am going to kill their enemy before the morning. If poverty, sickness, barrenness or lack is your enemy, you shall bury your enemy in the morning,” many confessed they knew it would be a night that would bring good tidings into their lives and they expect nothing short of that.
They had, however, not anticipated such great excitement from all over the country and beyond. Already many have brought testimonies of what God has done in their lives in the run-up to the day.
As with the Fifa World Cup held in South Africa in 2010, one can just feel it, it is here, “kena ko!” The environment bears testimony. The hype is high. It is now subject of gossip, discussion and media attention.
The excitement is growing and some people have begun to fast in preparation for this event while others are planning to celebrate a new life devoid of poverty, lack, sickness and barrenness.
A powerful public address system imported from Italy, believed to be the only one of its kind in Africa, is already under installation at the venue while as of yesterday, departments within UFIC that include ushering, logistics and sound were doing final touches in anticipation of the day.
In his sermons in the run up to the event, Prophet Makandiwa has promised fireworks, insisting the enemy will be dealt with in a ruthless manner.
Prophet Makandiwa has also noted the excitement and in some instances the fear that the event has generated in the country. He told congregants last week that “Judgement Night has already created its own atmosphere and the temperatures are ready, and our enemies are ready to die”.
Noting the panic and fear that has gripped some sections of society, he said that “Some people don’t understand where we are taking it from despite that we have given them the scripture. There is a scripture there, Exodus chapter 12. That was a judgement night”.
“During that night an angel of death shall be moving. I don’t know why some people are afraid because I tried to even mention the names of our enemies, ndikati poverty, ndikati sickness but some people are still afraid. I don’t know, uri poverty here iwe? Uri chirwere here iwe?” he asked rhetorically.
He further noted that it was the nature of the Passover, biblically, that some things had to die before the Israelites were freed by Pharaoh and that in the case of Judgement Night he had even explained which enemies of the people of God were dying before morning.
But while the countdown to the night, which is now less than 48 hours away, is sending shivers down the spines of some Zimbabweans, for UFIC members it is time to rejoice ahead of what God is about to do.
Tendai Chuma, a Harare resident summed up the exuberance when she said, “For some of us the stage is set… we have the regalia… we have our bibles, the prophet will be there, so we are ready to explode in joy and worship.”
Mrs Ellen Tumbare of Beitbridge is already in Harare for the event and for her the countdown has been painfully long.
“I came in a week ago to visit relatives and I was supposed to have gone back two days ago but when I saw the billboards and the stickers on cars about judgement night, I told myself I have to be here for this event.
“I have attended Prophet Makandiwa’s Sunday ( April 1 2012) and Tuesday (April 3) services. The atmosphere was electric and I am convinced it is worthwhile that I wait to attend the allnight (Prayer meeting),” she told our Harare Bureau in an interview yesterday.
So convinced is Mrs Tumbare that she has no doubts the event would justify the wait.
“I have never experienced what I experienced in these services (Sunday and Tuesday) and I am totally convinced Friday night will be fire,” she predicated.
Innocent Changamire of Seke said he is expecting great transformation after this event and that he was taking the event seriously.
“If you have had an encounter with the Lord you know what it means when a word is given to a prophet. I believe in the man of God so I am excited about it. I am coming ready for a new tomorrow,” he said, indicating that for him, just being at the venue is what matters.
The roads tomorrow night will be leading to the National Sports Stadium and transport operators and food vendors are already spoiling for big business.
Online Reporter