On Monday, High Court judge Justice David Mangota reserved judgment in a lawsuit in which United Family International Church (UFIC) leader Emmanuel Makandiwa and his wife, Ruth are being sued for $6,5 million by former congregants, businessman Upenyu Mashangwa and his wife, Blessing, over alleged false prophecies.
The Makandiwas, through their lawyer Advocate Lewis Uriri, had applied for exception in September, urging the court not to entertain the matter arguing that circular courts could not deal with issues involving matters of faith, church practice and doctrine. Mashangwa’s lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu opposed the exception application and urged the Makandiwas “not to hide behind curtains of legalism and subterfuge” but to defend the claim in court.
The lawsuit by the Mushangwas stems from an incident in which they claim that sometime in 2012 Makandiwa misrepresented in his prophecy that they would encounter a “debt cancellation miracle” before encouraging them to continue giving to the church. However, the couple had their Marlborough house in Harare attached and sold for $500 000 instead of $700 000 among other losses which they encountered because they chose to believe in Makandiwa’s prophesy.
More: NewsDay
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