The Sunday News
Simba Jemwa, Sunday Life Correspondent
A LOT has been written about Prophet Emmanuel Mutumwa over the last few years, basically a media frenzy most of which details his spiritual work.
But some may not be convinced that he is the real ‘makoya’ (genius).
And as much has been said in some of the online publications, tabloids, dailies and weeklies in the land.
One thing everyone will agree on, however, is that the man is indeed an enigma as have been all prophets through the ages.
A week-long visit to Manjolo Village in Binga, Matabeleland North province, may just be what the doctor ordered for the naysayers who do not believe in the spiritual gifts with which the man of God if endowed.
After all, a baboon’s head (pictured) with cloths and beads wrapped around it was found as proof of some alleged witchcraft by a local businessman who had allegedly sought wealth-creating idol in the form of the baboon’s head.
It is believed that the businessman used his idol to ‘steal’ money from his competitors as well as increase his own revenues. Villagers said a baboon would occasionally be seen in the business center ‘taking’ money and previous efforts by Tsikamutandas (witch hunters) to get rid of it were to no avail as did other prophets.
“When I arrived in Manjolo, I was told about the baboon head and also that others before me had failed.
However, I managed to remove this head along with its spiritual powers.
I removed it from the shop of another businessman who had gone broke as a consequence of the bewitching,” revealed Bulawayo based Prophet Mutumwa.
If one were to remember the one-time popularity of these Tsikamutandas in rural communities across Zimbabwe, then one realises the depth of belief amongst some communities about the existence and realness of witchcraft.
There is a real, almost pungent fear in some communities of the unknown that only men like Prophet Mutumwa dare to challenge.
Whether this is true or false is a conversation for another day, but regardless of what our learned society or non-believers think, those that do believe are in constant need of sort of divine assistance.
And after his week in Binga where Prophet Mutumwa had been invited to help locals, the voices and songs of gratitude from those that he helped are loud and clear, making it near impossible to ignore the man of God and his prophetic powers.
For almost a whole week, the people of Binga that do believe in witchcraft came out to Prophet Mutumwa.
They came to seek answers to the very pressing problems in their lives. And the Shurugwi-born Prophet Mutumwa did not disappoint.
He is first and foremost a young man compared to apostolic prophets of old. But perhaps most poignant is the man’s charisma and charm, enough to convert the most sceptic of sceptics on any given day.
His belief in his God and the powers invested in him by his God is unparalleled to say the least.
He is not a man given to shying away from the spotlight, a character trait that is unique to Johanne WeMasowe believers, but one that puts him on the same level as other prominent prophets.
The man arrived in Binga on a Friday and found hundreds waiting for him.
His primary reason for being in Binga was to help a local businessman whose hard work and profits were being eroded by what he believed to be evil spirits and bewitching.
This to the uninitiated reads a little like the desperate acts of a failing businessman.
Prophet Mutumwa arrived in Binga with little pomp or fanfare and immediately got down to work.
The first thing he wanted to do was deal with the immediate problem afflicting the businessman.
Then, and only then, does he get down to spreading his gift to the rest of the community.
The sick were healed and the bewitched cleansed of their demons! Binga was awestruck as the baby faced Madzibaba prayed with conviction and worshiped in earnest as he worked to deliver them from their troubles.
Word travelled fast as it does in most of rural Zimbabwe regardless of how remote it is.
People began flocking to his sessions at a temporary shrine. From far and wide, people walked, cycled, drove: long story short, people came in droves.
In his own words: “The crowds that came to the shrine were a bit of a surprise.
I knew I was going to work with a lot of people but I did not expect Binga to come out the way it did. God is good.”
Children, men, women, the elderly believers and non-believers found their way to Prophet Mutumwa.
He prayed for them!
Whenever he was on the move, scores followed him.
Taurai Mudhare originally from Masvingo province has been in Binga since 2007 which is when he established his business and he strongly believes he is surrounded by witchcraft which has been affecting his business operations.
“I am a hard worker, but for the last three years I have been struggling.
In fact, things have been so bad that I almost failed to pay my child’s university fees for his final year at University of Johannesburg.
It would have been painful if the child had failed to go for his final year.”
And Mudhare is convinced that Prophet Mutumwa’s visit will change a lot of people’s lives and free them from witchcraft: “After the Prophet’s visit to Binga, many livelihoods will change.
Binga people have fallen in love with Prophet Mutumwa and even some community leaders has already asked the prophet to come to his area and help,” Mudhare said.
Reports from Manjolo in Binga suggest on average 450 people came every day to the temporary shrine for Prophet Mutumwa’s spiritual help. According to believers who were in attendance, his spiritual interventions led to the healing of disabled people, freed many from demonic spirits and also cleansed the village of spirits that they believe were weighing down on progress in the area.
“This man came here and prayed for us. Until he arrived, we did not even know who he was.
All we knew is that one of our businessmen in the area, Mudhare had asked him to come and help him and his family.
But when he got here, he started helping everyone in the surrounding areas,” said Tymon Sianchali speaking to Sunday Life from Manjolo Village.
Another villager, Martha Siachitema said she and her family had walked several kilometers when they heard that the Prophet was in Manjolo Village.
She said her family had received prayers and she believes this is the turning point in their lives.
@RealSimbaJemwa
