Mathew Masinge
Thousands of believers gathered at Alice Building in Gweru for the Goodness and Mercy Ministries Revival Night held on Friday.
The church leader, Prophet T Freddy, took the opportunity to interact with his followers after the event.
The venue quickly became overcrowded as attendees sought a glimpse of the prophet.
Miraculous events unfolded, with many leaving the event with powerful testimonies.
However, security guards at Alice Place became overzealous, reportedly using tear gas on believers attempting to enter the building.
Onlookers noted that there was no violence as people simply wanted to witness the activities taking place inside.
“The people were never violent; they just wanted to see the man of God and receive blessings. To our surprise, the guards decided to deploy tear gas against the believers,” recounted one onlooker.
Although no injuries were reported, some individuals attempted to flee from the tear gas by rushing into the venue.
“These security guards at Alice Place were simply overzealous, and there was no violence at all,” added another believer.
After the altercation, Prophet T Freddy was seen exiting the stage with a wet towel, visibly affected by the tear gas.
He took the time to speak with those who had been affected.
“I believe the security was unreasonable, as the believers were peaceful and showed no signs of aggression.
“They merely wanted to enter and follow the proper procedures.
“Our internal security was managing the crowds professionally.
“We were satisfied with their handling of the situation and did not call for additional guards,” said the Prophet.
He also expressed gratitude for the turnout, stating that despite the skirmishes, the revival was a tremendous success.
“I want to thank the people of Gweru for their unwavering support.
“They demonstrated their enthusiasm for the Word of God. The miracles and testimonies are evident. We will return to them,” he said
Online Reporter