Makandiwa breaks silence on Chivayo crash, says he does not “see everything”

UNITED Family International Church (UFIC) founder Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa has addressed questions over whether he foresaw the helicopter crash that killed businessman Wicknell Chivayo, saying he has never claimed to see everything and that only God does.

Makandiwa made the remarks in a condolence message issued on behalf of UFIC and his family, following the crash in Marondera that claimed the lives of Chivayo, his wife Lulu, two pilots and his wife’s aide.

The statement comes amid public discussion of Makandiwa’s close ties to the late businessman. Chivayo had given US$1 million towards UFIC church projects, and the cleric recently had supper with the couple at their residence, a gathering some on social media have since dubbed “the last supper”.

Makandiwa acknowledged the meeting in his message.

“I thank God that we had time together at their house where we had supper and private discussions in that and previous other meetings whose purposes remain confidential,” he said.
Turning to the question many have raised, the prophet said the matter of whether he had seen the accident coming was, to him, already settled by his past statements on the limits of prophecy.

“As for the question of whether I saw the accident prophetically before time or not as some may wonder; that, to me, was rendered unimportant when I stated in time past my inability to see everything. I reiterate that I have never seen everything, I don’t see everything, and I won’t see everything, only God does because he has no gift to see,” he said.

Makandiwa went further, suggesting the couple had a sense that their time was near, and that this explained the scale and urgency of their recent giving.

“What is important to note, for those that care, is that the couple knew their time to be taken and desired for that time to be while they were at their best, and their giving and helping people was to be completed on time – hence they were in a rush to give and indeed SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST,” he said.

“You don’t honour your Leaders and share your wealth with people at that magnitude and depart without a clear knowledge.”

He added that while the departure may have come at the couple’s best time, “the time may not be the best for those you leave behind.”
The cleric extended condolences to the families of Mr and Mrs Chivayo, to the families of what he called “the special crew on board that did not make it home alive”, and to the Johane Masowe church and its leaders.

Citing Revelation 14:13, he said none of a person’s work goes to waste.

“The worst tragedy to all man is not in dying, but not dying in the Lord Jesus. If that was achieved and is achieved in your personal life we celebrate the new glorious life,” Makandiwa said.

Makandiwa was among the mourners who joined President Emmerson Mnangagwa and a host of government ministers at the Chivayo residence in Gletwin, Harare, this evening.

The bodies of the five victims are still undergoing forensic examination, and funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.