A dark cloud has engulfed a Chitungwiza family after one of their family members was brutally attacked and allegedly raped by thugs while coming from Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa’s evening church service.

Mrs Waremba, a former Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) church member, reportedly attended Prophet Makandiwa’s evening church service during the much anticipated Prophetic Conference that saw Prophet Makandiwa’s “spiritual father” coming all the way from Ghana to attend the function as well as ordain 22 UFI pastors including Makandiwa’s two brothers.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mrs Waremba was attacked by robbers-cum-murderers in a Chitungwiza area known as Mayambara.

“Mrs Waremba was brutally attacked by robbers at midnight as she was coming from Prophet Makandiwa’s evening service on Thursday 30 May. She had a heart problem and the attack worsened her health condition,” said.

Another reliable mole, who is very close to the family said Mrs Waremba was seriously attacked then raped as she was just a few meters away from her house.

“After being beaten she was then raped because there was semen on her body. The woman used to go to AFM church at New Life assembly in Unit A of Chitungwiza. Four months ago she left AFM and joined Prophet Makandiwa’s UFI church together with her son called Simba.

“Simba became part of UFI praise and worship team after joining the church. A month after becoming a UFI member he accompanied his friend to Beitbridge to collect a car that his friend had imported. On their way back, they were involved in a car accident and Simba died on the spot. However his friend (the car owner) survived. And we heard that Prophet Makandiwa didn’t attend the funeral even though Simba had become a member of their Praise and Worship team.

“Things had not been too well in the family this year. A month after Simba died, Mrs Waremba’s mother also died, then last month Mrs Waremba’s sister-in-law (her brother’s wife) also died. Now Mrs Waremba has passed on. The sad part is that Prophet Makandiwa and UFI members did not attend the funeral. Only women from the hood were singing at the funeral. Maybe they were there in spirit,” said a highly placed source.

My Zimbabwe managed to get hold of Mrs Waremba’s brother who confirmed the incident. The brother who was identified as Tawanda and popularly known as Mufakose said her sister was attacked on Thursday while coming from Prophet Makandiwa’s evening service. The conference was held at UFI Chitungwiza’s church venue and the evening services would run from 5pm till 11pm, though UFI had previously said they would finish at 9pm.

“She was attacked at around 12 midnight as she was coming from Makandiwa’s conference. She had just crossed the road in Mayambara and was beaten as she was about to get home. She was picked up the following morning and was rushed to Chitungwiza hospital before being transferred to Parirenyatwa Hopsital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Mrs Waremba died five days after being admitted in the ICU.

“The doctor delayed the post mortem and that is what we are waiting for. The post mortem is being done this morning (Monday). After that we will go to the parlour then proceed to the rural area in Chiweshe where burial will be held tomorrow (Tuesday),” Tawanda told My Zimbabwe News on Monday morning.

My Zimbabwe has tried since Saturday to get a comment from Prophet Makandiwa’s church officials but to no avail. The church’s office phone number which is listed on their website was not answered on Saturday and Monday morning. The cellphone number for their Media and Information department which is also found on their website seems not to be functioning at all.

Meanwhile, in October last year, another UFI member from Glendale died after being allegedly crashed by Prophet Makandiwa’s haulage truck. The incident, which left residents of Glendale in a state of shock, reportedly took place on Thursday 11 September 2012 in the evening at around 9pm at Rujeko school grounds.

A haulage truck belonging to United Family International Church (UFIC), was carrying the church’s state-of-the-art Public Address system and other resources that were supposed to be used at the church’s crusade which was scheduled for this previous weekend.

Sources who spoke to My Zimbabwe said several men and women, including the deceased, Ms Elizabeth Masuko (42), had gone to the school grounds to ‘welcome’ the equipment for the crusade.

“The haulage truck came from Harare so we had gone to receive the equipment that was supposed to be used during the crusade. We were all looking forward to the event and we never expected to witness such a horrific tragedy. We were all happy to see the truck coming. We ululated as it was making its way into the school grounds. There was a lot of commotion so Eliza unfortunately fell in front of the haulage truck and was crashed by the vehicle,” said a young woman who identified herself as Ruva. 

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