Okafor ignites outrage with Harare visit

7 months ago Editor

He is back draped in President Mnangagwa’s signature scarf.

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Nigerian cleric Chris Okafor’s recent visit to Zimbabwe has sparked controversy and raised eyebrows. Okafor, who leads the Liberation and Miracle Ministry, arrived in the country on Thursday for a three-day conference in Harare. He was welcomed by businessman and Zanu PF central committee member Mike Chimombe, who draped him in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s traditional scarf upon his arrival at Robert Mugabe International Airport.

Okafor is no stranger to controversy. In 2015, he was denied entry into Zimbabwe by President Robert Mugabe’s government after making a prophecy predicting Mugabe’s near death. Okafor is known for his “miracles” on the pulpit, which have come under scrutiny on several occasions. In 2020, he was accused of paying a woman to fake a miracle, an allegation he denied.

Okafor’s visit is being spearheaded by a group of indigenous business people led by Chimombe. However, not everyone is pleased with his presence in the country. Independent Norton legislator Temba Mliswa recently expressed concern in parliament over the visit of clerics like Okafor to Zimbabwe.

“My question is to the Leader of Government business pertaining to false prophets that come to this country after they have done a research in terms of prophecy,” Mliswa said. “They go and talk to families to make you believe that what they are saying is true. They take money from our people yet things are so difficult, in particular the one called Prophet Chris Okafor from Nigeria who has been banned in South Africa and Namibia but he is coming to Zimbabwe.”

Mliswa questioned the government’s stance on visits by “false prophets” and called for a panel of men of God to vet such visitors before they are allowed into the country. He also pointed out that Okafor had been banned from South Africa and Namibia and suggested that it would be worth investigating him before allowing him into Zimbabwe.

“He also prophesied in 2015 that the former late President Mugabe will die,” Mliswa added. “Indeed, everybody dies but he then died in 2019. You can see that he has an agenda. What policy has Government got to vet these people before they come to this country because they also come for our money? Do we not have enough prophets in this country? We have Prophet Magaya, Prophet Makandiwa, churches and so forth. Are we short of faith as a nation to want to import faith into this country? Are we not a God-fearing country? Why are we allowing prophets to come to this country and milk money from our people?”

Mliswa’s concerns highlight the need for greater scrutiny of visiting religious figures and their potential impact on the country and its people.