Robert Mugabe defeats four prophets?

By Brian Maregedze

It has been a while since I posted on Humanitiesspecialists.blogspot.com. Firstly, I can say compliments of the new season to readers of this important blog. Although the year has started with uncertainties on a clear path in Zimbabwe’s education system particularly with civil servants salaries issue dominating the print media, education has to be however pursued against these odd circumstances. Interestingly, to those in Harare you can now find me at Valley Crest Academy, situated in Waterfalls-Park town, along Masocha Ndhlovu road. More importantly, along the next few weeks, am expecting a dose of motivation from Advocate Arthur Marara in the form of an e-book as per now tradition in January. Today’s blog post pays attention to a story carried by Bulawayo24.com written by Mandla Ndlovu, Robert Mugabe defeats four prophets (08.01.2019). In three days the story already has over 1000 views and I found the story worth reflecting on. Is the story significant in light of its title and having a Zimbabwean society still confronting the past ‘death wishes’ on the life of Robert Mugabe whenever he was on leave? Above all, isn’t the story a work of sensational media reporting of the 21st century or some information worth engaging intellectually can be addressed both in Divinity and or Family and Religious Studies discussions?

Church leaders in Zimbabwe, namely, Apostle Johnson Suleman are reported to have prophesied that the former president of Zimbabwe, Robert G. Mugabe would die in 2018; Prophet Itai Ukama of Abundant Life Ministries was reported to have seen Zimbabweans gathering to mourn on the 3rd of December 2018; pastor Ian Ndlovu of Divine Kingdom Ministries was also reported to have been given a message of a father figure in Southern Africa departing, although exact date isn’t given and finally prophet Sham Hungwe was reported to have noted that;
“I am seeing the spirit of the late political leader ‘R’ calling another spirit of a living political leader ‘R’ to a resting place and this will happen by July.”
Mandla Ndlovu concludes the story by reporting that despite these prophecies, former President Mugabe has remained the last man standing.

The above four narratives seem to have some challenges especially with an open mind to events surrounding claimed prophecies on Robert Mugabe. In an article by Mediel Hove and Vincent Chenzi (2017), Robert Mugabe labelled those claimed prophets critical of his authority, ‘prophets of doom.’ Even the biblical Amos, an 8th century prophet attracted the same label ‘prophet of doom’ after making various pronouncements against the people of Israel (Amos 2:6ff) and other nations due to their transgressions against Yahweh.

I found the title used by Mandla Ndlovu misleading since the report supposes that one can be labelled a prophet by claiming that anyone who makes a prediction is a prophet. For instance, Pastor Ian Ndlovu, what makes him a prophet to fit the title of the story? What makes a prophet a prophet?
On another note, the conclusion by the reporter suggests that the so-called prophets were defeated by Robert Mugabe. Also on my Facebook post on the same topic, Archieford Mtetwa, my academic senior and an expert in Old Testament Studies argued that such claimed prophecies being grounded on ‘simply false positive prophets/sons of Sceva (Acts 19:14-16), a synagogue of Satan (Rev 2:9 and 3:9), sons of perdition.’

I also note that, the claimed prophets didn’t defeat Robert Mugabe but rather made self-defeating statements in the name of predictions.  The story reminds me of the need to engage with the debate between true and false prophets among learners. From a related study, particularly Obvious Vengeyi (2013), argued that the difference between true and false prophets is the same. As such a compromise or stalemate is reached thereby dropping the whole narrative by Mandla Ndlovu making it futile despite opening up to the idea that predictions made about death of Robert Mugabe have been in vain. The story may offer an entry point to the topical issue of true and false prophets, focusing on their features/characteristics.

For feedback, email; bmaregedze@gmail.com

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