HARARE – A disturbing investigation has unearthed a network of deception within Harare’s religious landscape, where prominent prophets and churches are allegedly exploiting the desperation of Epworth residents, paying them a pittance of $20 to orchestrate fake miracles and prophecies. This practice, known locally as “mabhidhiri,” involves individuals feigning possession, illness, or other afflictions to deceive congregations and line the pockets of unscrupulous religious leaders.
Epworth, a sprawling settlement on the fringes of Harare, has long been synonymous with hardship and social ills. The area has been plagued by drug and substance abuse, gender-based violence, and even the shocking reality of commercial sex workers accepting as little as US$0.50 for their services. Now, it appears a new form of exploitation has taken root, with vulnerable residents turning to “mabhidhiri” as a means of survival.
The term “mabhidhiri” itself is derived from the supposed Holy Spirit seizures, the dramatic falling and rolling often witnessed at shrines run by self-proclaimed prophets. However, behind the theatrics lies a calculated scheme to manipulate the faith and generosity of unsuspecting worshippers.
Their roles vary depending on the specific demands of the “would-be healer.” Some feign blindness, others lameness, while still others mimic insanity, all in an effort to create a spectacle that will draw in more followers and, consequently, more money.
Most of the activities take place at Domboramwari, one of the busiest business centres in Epworth.
Ironically, Domboramwari means ‘God’s rock’ as old settlers regarded it as a holy place, claiming that God physically walked on the rock and left eternal “one-size-fits-all footprints”. Unfortunately, the place has become a hub of con artists who deceive in the name of God.
The lure of easy money has proven irresistible for many in Epworth, where opportunities are scarce and poverty is a constant struggle. The promise of a relatively quick $20 for a few hours of acting has led to the normalisation of deception within some segments of the community.
The number of churches has tremendously increased, with some leaders employing dirty tactics to win followers. The more the congregants, the more tithes and offerings a church gets.
The Sunday Mail once interviewed some of the people involved in the acts.
Richard Maribi (52), who claimed to have retired from the trade, said he has been a recruiter since 2011, working closely with ‘false’ prophets.
“I would speak to them in clear terms. I would tell them, ‘I want real actors since we are going to be acting and everything must appear real’. After rigorous practice, I would then deploy them (stuntmen) to different churches depending on the specifications of a particular prophet,” said Maribi.
He claimed most of his communication with the supposed prophets was done through the phone.
He added that his friend, who is now based in South Africa, forced him into the practice after he formed a church that did not do well.
“He gave me money and told me to recruit and pay people to fake miracles at his church. I was going through a rough patch and could not resist the lucrative offer since I had a wife and five children to take care of,” revealed Maribi.
The “success” he registered with his friend created more links for him.
As “business” boomed, he claimed to have managed to build a well-furnished five-room house on his late father’s stand and opened a small tuckshop which he intends to turn into a big shop.
His colleague, only identified as Adam, was rude and not forthcoming.
“Ko tauraya vanhu here? (Have we killed anyone?) We are trying to earn a living, so just let us be, please.”
A commercial sex worker, well known around Domboramwari shops by the name of Rhumba (36), confirmed taking part in mabhidhiri.
“This is a better trade compared to the risky thigh vending, which exposes me to sexually transmitted infections and robbers. Besides, the returns are quick and guaranteed,” said Rhumba.
Investigations by this publication revealed that the actors get at least US$10 for their effort during a church service. However, prominent churches that attract thousands of worshippers pay double that much – US$20 for faking a miracle or a prophecy.
“It is all about getting money and taking care of our families,” she added.
Chiedza Ganhire (not her real name), a single mother of three from Epworth, said she is still actively involved in mabhidhiri.
She shockingly revealed that she had to pretend to be mentally ill in Chitungwiza for a week as part of her stunt.
“The apostolic church had a great gathering, with many people coming from different church branches across Harare and Chitungwiza. The church had made public invitations for people to come and get healed.
“I would travel to Chigovanyika Shops in Chitungwiza early morning for the whole week and dress in torn and dirty clothes, making sure I got noticed by local people acting insane,” she said with a chuckle.
Ganhire claimed to have pocketed US$100 from the church leader and several donations from congregants after she was “healed”.
“It was not an easy task but I pulled through. What happened is that during a church service, the man of God claimed he was seeing a mentally challenged woman who was roaming around the shops.
“He said I was bewitched, so he sent his aides to come and pick me up so that I could get deliverance.
“When they came to me, I went berserk as rehearsed, proving my mental instability. I later gave in.
“They prayed for me and I received some holy water.”
Ganhire said after “deliverance” she told the congregants that she was from Headlands and did not know how she had ended up at that gathering.
She added that she knew what she was doing was wrong but her circumstances were forcing her to act like that.
A video clip of a popular self-styled Bishop Kevin Nyamukanga making confessions of having been in the same trade once made waves on social media.
“I speak from experience. Some of these ‘miracles’ are not from God’s power but gimmicks … We used to do this before I repented,” said part of the confession.
A prominent blogger and Youtube journalist, Zigo, recently published a video where he reportedly interviewed Epworth residents who confessed to have been hired to take part in Prophet Miracle Paul’s church. What is, however, strikingly shocking, is the fact that these self-confessed mabhidhiri actors, were wearing the exact clothes they were wearing when the alleged ‘prophecies and miracles’ took place.
The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) says it does not have power to stop bogus prophets from conning people because churches are voluntary organisations.
Reverend Kenneth Mtata, who was the ZCC secretary general at the time made the revelations some years ago after The Standard discovered during an investigation that there was a growing number of fake prophets in Harare who are stage-managing miracles to lure worshippers.
A group of people from the poor settlement of Epworth on the outskirts of Harare have found an easy way to make money through the fake prophets who lead charismatic churches. These ministries draw crowds through fake miracles.
The mabhidhiri (fake miracle actors who pretend Holy Spirit seizures and falling to the ground — hence their nickname mabhidhiri) — a group of people who move from one church to another giving false testimonies and partaking in fake miracles — are growing in numbers.
Investigations revealed that the actors are a well-knit network made up of tricksters and polished actors who charge $10 to $20 per church service.
One such group in the Domboramwari area is made up of commercial sex workers and hard-core criminals, which offers its services to fake prophets in Harare.
“One thing that you must understand is that this is business,” said Chipo Makusha, a commercial sex worker who admitted to going around churches giving false testimonies in exchange for money from the so-called prophets.
“Churches are a form of business for some and we are hired to give testimonies of how we were assisted by these church leaders, to “manifest” demons or claim healing and collapsing,” she added.
“People nowadays are so much into miracles, instant riches and luck.
“We have polished acts that can convince even an atheist.”
Makusha (27) is unemployed, divorced and is a mother of three minor children.
She refused to give our reporters permission to photograph the gang’s rendezvous but she volunteered names of several well-known churches that pay for their services from time to time.
“We can set up our market stalls in a new area a few days before the church leader visits. No one will suspect we knew each other before setting up business there,” she said.
“When they come and start praying and preaching, people will be indifferent at first, but when they start prophesying and getting into prayer sessions, they come directly to us.
“For example, I can manifest a demon, shouting on top of my voice describing how my relatives are jealous of my success or something.”
She added: “Imagine if there are three or four people who are prayed for and their stories ring true? At the end of the session, they give congregants their address and phone numbers.
“We continue going to that church for about five to six weeks and give testimonies of how we were healed of different aliments. “People will start to believe and by the time that we leave, there will be people who will be convinced that they can get help.”
James Mundati (not his real name) who claims to be the co-ordinator of the mabhidhiri, said his duty was to market the upcoming prophets and church leaders. He also links them with people willing to give fake testimonies in exchange for money.
“I go around advertising these churches, especially in remote areas. We plant people who will give testimonies of how they would have been helped.”
“A person can come on a stretcher bed and the man of God will conduct prayers and remove some small frogs that would have been planted under the patient’s clothes.
“In fact, there are many ways to convince people that they are seeing a true man of God.”
He said he considered what he does as business and never thinks about the consequences.
Mundati said most of the church leaders acquired their tools of the trade from traditional healers. The items include so-called anointing oil and water.
The investigation has also uncovered a disturbing confession from a self-styled Bishop, Kevin Nyamukanga, who admitted to having been involved in similar practices before his repentance.
“I speak from experience. Some of these ‘miracles’ are not from God’s power but gimmicks … We used to do this before I repented,” said part of the confession.
The revelations have prompted widespread condemnation, with religious leaders and community members alike expressing outrage at the exploitation of vulnerable individuals and the blatant manipulation of faith for financial gain.
Zimbabwe Young Christian Founders and Ministers Association (ZYCFMA) president Pastor Lloyd Jarrison condemned the practice.
“There is a disturbing trend of false preachers who are capitalising on the tough economic conditions to con people of their hard-earned money,” he said.
He urged the authorities to look into the matter and come up with laws that severely punish those caught on the wrong side.
However, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has admitted to being powerless to intervene, citing its status as a voluntary organisation.
Reverend Kenneth Mtata, who was the ZCC secretary general at the time made the revelations some years ago after The Standard discovered during an investigation that there was a growing number of fake prophets in Harare who are stage-managing miracles to lure worshippers.
“We have heard about that but as a council, there is nothing we can do about it because we are a voluntary organisation,” he said. “What we can say is that those that have seen that they are being cheated must leave those churches.
“It is very difficult for the council to take any action against those churches.
“What I can say is that those crooks are huge at the moment, not only in Zimbabwe, but in Africa as a continent.”
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