Makandiwa speaks on rumours that he is moving to South Africa

United Families International Church (UFIC) leader Emmanuel Makandiwa has dismissed rumours that he had acquired a permanent South African residence permit and relocated to that country.

UFIC spokesperson Prime Kufa yesterday told NewsDay that the reports, which have gone viral on social media platforms, were false. He said:

He (Makandiwa) last went outside the country, I think, in May, he is in Zimbabwe and has no plans of leaving the country. We have received numerous calls and enquiries regarding that, but all we know, which is certain, is that he is based in Zimbabwe, he has been around since May without going out. These rumours have been circulating for a while now. At first it was alleged that he (Makandiwa) had relocated to South Africa and was flying from there every Tuesday and Sunday for church services. Now they have changed the story, they are saying he is now a permanent resident there. We suspect this is being done by our detractors, not one, but many. If you look at the said forms, you will realise that they have varying dates. Some forms say he was born in 1990 while others state that he was born in 1977.

NewsDay’s attempts to get a comment from South Africa’s Home Affairs director-general, Mkuseli Apleni, were unfruitful as his mobile phone went unanswered while a message sent to him had not been responded to at the time of going to print last night.

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