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Apostle JB Makananisa (left) declared pastors Flora and Lucas Muleya "anointed" to change Musina.

Controversy over photographs on church’s FB page

 

The burning of the house of a Musina pastor by residents, after he had made a “confession” on Charis TV channel about his witchcraft involvement, caused lively debate on social media platforms the past week. The producers of the television programme were accused of being irresponsible and criticised for the manner in which they disclosed personal details of participants on the show.

The 70-year-old Pastor Samuel Ndadza made headlines the past two weeks, following his confession on air about his alleged “witchcraft” activities. Musina residents were less impressed with the sincerity of his actions and rather opted to burn down his house.

Meanwhile, the Charis Missionary Church, which runs Charis TV channel, posted a picture of two pastors from Musina, following the attack on the pastor’s house. They are pastors Flora and Lucas Muleya.

“Apostle JB Makananisa urged the people of Musina in Limpopo that they must go to the church of Pastors Flora and Lucas Muleya,” reads the Facebook entry on Sunday. “Going on, the Apostle emphasized that the people of Musina will be delivered because of them.”

The entry went on to say that Makananisa had prayed for the couple and declared them anointed “to change Musina”.

It does, however, seem as if the entry was suggesting that the two pastors would try and change the hearts and minds of people who burned Ndadza's house, encouraging them to stop such acts.

Facebook fan, Lucia Nedzamba Nemakhavhani, responded: “A person can never anoint another person. It’s God who anoints people. Brethren, let’s fight spiritual war not physical. I’m just not impressed at all.”

Her opinion was not shared by a number of other Facebook members. Reuben Ndou said: “To Lucia and all those who are against the truth, I think it’s better not to watch the television and commenting all this nonsenses because you are starting to be a bad influence to those who want to be delivered and see the kingdom of heaven. Ni litshe uri bora hafha nga u imedzana na mushumo wa Mudzimu, go and burn to hell alone.”

Despite the South African Council of Churches’ lashing out at the churches which made people confess sins in public (TV channel), people still flock to the Charis Missionary Church in Tembisa, in the hope that they will get healed, saved and delivered.

The church published, among many other similar ones, a picture of a nine-year-old boy who is supposed to be HIV positive, holding up a chart. On the chart his name, age and HIV status are displayed as the “problem” which brought him to the church.

The Treatment Action Campaign's spokesperson, Ms Lotti Rutter, said that the act of placing the minor’s picture on Facebook and disclosing his HIV status to the whole world was a violation of his right to privacy and dignity. She indicated that the minor in this case was too young to understand the implications of disclosing his status.

“The institution should immediately remove the picture, and any others where people’s HIV status are disclosed without informed consent,” she said.

However, looking at most of the pictures of the people carrying “HIV” charts, it seems obvious that some felt uncomfortable with their pictures being taken during a prayer service. They try by all means to turn their faces away from the camera.

All attempts to reach Apostle JB Makananisa proved fruitless. His “personal representatives” refused to give the direct contact number of Makananisa.

Help-seekers look uncomfortable as the church photographs them during the prayer service. Facebook picture.

A nine-year-old boy, whose status the church reveals on Facebook.Facebook picture.

Help-seekers look uncomfortable as the church photographs them during the prayer service. Facebook picture.

Apostle JB Makananisa. Facebook picture.

 

Date:29 May 2015

By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

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