Prophet Makandiwa, President Mnangagwa, US$2 million cash and the food poisoning incident (WATCH VIDEOS)

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledged US$2 million towards the construction of United Family International Church’s new 10,000-seater building in Harare, bringing renewed attention to the close relationship between the President and UFIC founder Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa.

Makandiwa announced the pledge during a live Sunday service at the church’s Basilica in Chitungwiza, where more than 30,000 congregants gathered. He told worshippers that Mnangagwa had instructed him to begin the work, obtain quotations for the required materials and submit them to him.

“So he said start the work, and you find the materials that are needed, come to me, give me the quotations, and he will pay US$2 million in his own personal capacity,” Makandiwa said.

The pledge is directed at a new church that UFIC plans to build in Harare. Makandiwa said the President recognised the church’s work and its contribution to the country. He also said Mnangagwa had recalled attending UFIC in the past and seeing its activities first-hand.

“He said, ‘I am aware of your works, your prayers and your contributions to this nation. I was once a part of you. I came to your church at some point and saw what you are doing. And I also heard that you are building another church and remember that inovakwa nevene vayo (it will be built by its owners),'” he said.

Makandiwa described the President in deeply personal terms, saying he regularly prayed for Mnangagwa and his family and that UFIC would continue to honour and support him.

“To me, he is not just our President. He is a man that I love. I always pray for our President and I always pray for his family. And all of us, on several occasions, we have done so because we love him,” he said.

He also promised that the church would remain accountable during the construction project and provide updates on its progress. Makandiwa said UFIC would welcome the appointment of a representative by Mnangagwa to work with the church and monitor the project.

UFIC spokesperson Pastor Prime Kufakunesu said the congregation was grateful for the support from the First Family.

“This is beyond what words can explain. You saw how the people rejoiced; it shows their joy and gratitude for what the First Family has done for us as a church,” he said.

He added: “The words of our Father, Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa, summed it up. The door is still open for all those who would like to partner with the project to put their hands where the President of the nation already has.”

The pledge comes after a series of large donations and expensive gifts linked to the church and its leader. Prominent businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife have contributed US$1 million towards the same construction project. In August, Makandiwa displayed the cash before his congregation, with stacks of US$100 notes placed on the altar as worshippers watched.

Chivayo has also given Makandiwa and his wife, Ruth, three luxury vehicles. The gifts include a 2026 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge facelift, a 2026 Mercedes-AMG G63 G-Wagon and a 2026 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600. Makandiwa said the Maybach was presented to the couple as an anniversary gift, while the other two vehicles were personal gifts for the prophet and his wife.

The new pledge has therefore placed the church project at the centre of a remarkable flow of money, vehicles and political goodwill. It has also revived memories of an event from 2017, when Makandiwa said he had predicted that a senior political figure would fall ill after consuming poison through food.

On April 9, 2017, during a church service, Makandiwa spoke about a person in authority who was loyal to a higher office. A recording of that service was later replayed to UFIC congregants after then-Vice President Mnangagwa became seriously ill at a political rally in Gwanda in August that year.

“I see someone in authority, who is loyal to a higher office, swallowing poison through food and vomiting blood and rushed to the hospital and only prayer can save him,” Makandiwa said in the recorded service.

The prophecy gained widespread public attention after Mnangagwa fell ill during the rally. He suffered severe vomiting and diarrhea, became dehydrated, and was taken for medical treatment. He was later transferred to South Africa. Interestingly, it was the then-Army General Constantino Chiwenga, now the nation’s Vice President, who took it upon himself to save Mnangagwa’s life after the suspected food poisoning incident.

President Robert Mugabe and his entourage had been flown to Gwanda by two military helicopters, with the second chopper carrying Mnangagwa, former Defence Minister Sidney Sekeramayi, and former Health Minister Dr. David Parirenyatwa. General Chiwenga ordered that the second helicopter immediately take Mnangagwa to a military hospital in Gweru for urgent medical attention before he was flown to South Africa, where the poison was successfully flushed out.

Chiwenga even accompanied Mnangagwa to Gweru while Mugabe’s rally was underway. The incident quickly became known as the “poisoned food” or “poisoned ice cream” episode, leading to intense speculation about what had caused his illness.

The political setting added to the tension around the episode. Mnangagwa was then one of Zimbabwe’s vice-presidents and a senior figure in the ruling party. His sudden illness at a public gathering led to questions about whether he had been targeted, while other accounts described the problem as a serious medical reaction linked to food consumed at the event.

UFIC later used the April recording to show that Makandiwa had spoken about the incident months before Mnangagwa became ill. Prime Kufa, who was the church’s spokesperson at the time, confirmed that the footage had been played back during a service.

“Yes the video was played, re-living the service of the 9th of April wherein the man of God spoke about the need to pray for a prominent politician because he was seeing something entering his stomach causing him to vomit – food first and then blood and ending up in hospital. Though the man of God did not mention any names, you need to watch the footage in order to come up with your own interpretation.”

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On 9 April 2017 Makandiwa “prophesied” that thez a prominent politician who’ll consume poison. He’ll be hospitalised & only prayer can save him. Makandiwa further claimed that this man HAS BEEN VERY LOYAL to his authority. The prophecy was referring to Mnangagwa’s poison saga. pic.twitter.com/ovNFYOIbD5

— My Zimbabwe News (@myzimbabwenews) April 4, 2018

The episode became one of Makandiwa’s most discussed prophecies. It linked his ministry to one of the most dramatic political incidents of the period and strengthened his public image among followers who saw the recording as evidence that he had foreseen Mnangagwa’s illness.

Years later, the relationship between the two men has moved from prophecy and political praise to a major building project backed by a personal pledge from the President. Makandiwa has repeatedly spoken in support of Mnangagwa, praising his leadership, praying for his family and describing the President as a man who has recognised the church’s work.

At the Chitungwiza service, the response from the congregation showed the importance of the announcement to UFIC members. The crowd applauded, ululated, sang and danced as Makandiwa shared the news of the US$2 million pledge. The church now has to turn the announcement into a construction programme for the proposed Harare building, with materials, quotations and project monitoring expected to form the next stage.

For Makandiwa, the new church is a sign of the ministry’s continuing growth. For Mnangagwa, the pledge has placed his personal support behind a large religious construction project. And for followers who remember the 2017 prophecy, the latest announcement has brought the story full circle: the prophet who said he foresaw the future illness of a senior politician is now publicly celebrating that same politician’s support for the next chapter of his church.