adminHarare Bureau
SEVERAL churches and civic groups have lashed out at recent “prophecies” by Malawian prophet Austin Liabunya, describing him as a religious extremist whose utterances were a threat to the nation’s peace and order.
In a statement on Tuesday, founding president of Tehillar Christian Network Reverend Sam Malunga said Zimbabweans had to guard against anti-government religious extremism.
“Zimbabweans and the rest of the world have the moral obligation to urgently take a firm stance on religious extremism and its various forms of appearance,” he said.
“Faith-based institutions across the religious divide practising unethical illegal religious statutes should be exposed and be reported to relevant authorities to curb the escalating negative culture of extremism common in West Africa characterised by Boko Haram and Takfir movements in Nigeria, extreme apostolic and charismatic cultic ritualistic ceremonial ideologies in Zimbabwe.”
Malunga said Zimbabweans should be on the lookout for religious extremists whose utterances pose a threat to the nation’s peace.
The outcry came after a Malawian online publication, Maravi Post, reported that during the New Year’s crossover night, Prophet Austin Liabunya said that “President Mugabe’s biological clock would not tick beyond this year”, referring to the year 2015.
It is alleged that he also said the First Lady Grace Mugabe “will never win in Zimbabwean politics”.
Evangelist Patrick Chikore of Christian Healing Ministries for all Nations said the nature of Liabunya’s message contradicted basic principles of prophecy.
“God and his Word do not condemn or frighten people. I do not call what he said a prophecy because this has nothing to do with God, God of truth, love and reality.”
President of Women in Economic Empowerment Jotina Matanhire said attacks on the First Lady by Liabunya were a threat which clearly indicates works of a human nature and not God.
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