Harare – Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa’s audacious “Million Dollar Challenge,” a proposition that has sparked a maelstrom of mixed reactions and ignited a fierce debate about faith, power, and the pursuit of the miraculous, continues to dominate discussions across Zimbabwe and beyond. However, the challenge is facing mounting skepticism, particularly from traditional healers and fellow spiritual leaders who question the motives and methods behind the high-stakes dare.
The challenge, which has rapidly become a viral sensation across social media platforms, invites ordinary citizens, traditional healers (sangomas), and fellow prophets from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda to put their purported powers to the test. The premise is simple: Prophet Makandiwa will award US$1 million to anyone who can accurately discern the contents of his pocket in a public demonstration of their abilities.
In a bold declaration, Prophet Makandiwa stated, “I’m giving you a test right here. If anyone can prophesy and if there is a witchdoctor who can see, who gets told things by demons, we can arrange for you to come here on Sunday.”
He elaborated on the specifics of the challenge, emphasising that it would not involve any complex rituals or prayers. “We are not praying for each other, I am not going to do anything difficult. I will just put something in my pocket and the one who will tell me what is in my pocket, I will borrow US$1 million.”
To quell any doubts about his commitment, Prophet Makandiwa added, “In front of all these people we will sign, I don’t have the money but I am saying we will sign an agreement and you can sue me. It’s not a joke.” He has even offered to cover the travel expenses for potential participants from Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda, with the understanding that they will reimburse him should they fail to meet the challenge.
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Prophet Makandiwa’s stated objective is to expose what he perceives as widespread deception, with many individuals falsely claiming to possess supernatural powers. However, the challenge has been met with a spectrum of responses, ranging from enthusiastic support to vehement opposition, and increasingly, outright dismissal.
One Bible scholar, Fungai Maponga, has cautioned Prophet Makandiwa against what he believes is a potential trap set by the Devil. “We respect Prophet Makandiwa as a teacher of the word but, on pledging money, he made a mistake,” Maponga asserted. “Had he challenged the sangomas and prophets without promising money, we could have understood him better since there are a number of false prophets and sangomas.”
Maponga drew a parallel to the temptations faced by Jesus Christ, who rebuffed the Devil’s advances by quoting scripture. “Jesus’ powers were tempted by the Devil but he replied by quoting the word of God.” He argued that Prophet Makandiwa has “failed his test of integrity by promising a million dollars,” and that the challenge is inherently flawed because it revolves around material gain. “Prophet Makandiwa must admit that he got carried away by making that challenge, it’s not Biblical and is based on material things being sought by the people he is challenging.”
Maponga further questioned the distinction between Prophet Makandiwa and those he is challenging: “How can he be different from false prophets and sangomas who need money when he is also pledging money?” In a pointed statement, Maponga concluded, “A demon can not remove another demon. The money promised is the demon.”
Prophet Passion Java, a fellow Zimbabwean preacher known for his flamboyant style, responded to Makandiwa’s challenge by seemingly raising the stakes. “On Sunday VaMakandiwa ndirikuuya nechirema chikafamba ndokupai 10 million USD,” he declared in a social media post, loosely translated as: “On Sunday, Mr. Makandiwa, I am coming with a cripple who will walk, and I will give you 10 million USD.”
Adding to the chorus of skepticism, a Chitungwiza-based prophet, known popularly as “Miracle Paul,” issued a cautionary message to those considering participating in the challenge. “Chenjerai kuti munodzoka musisawone kana chinhu ikoko,” Miracle Paul warned in his post, which roughly translates to: “Be careful, you might return without seeing anything there.” He further cautioned that such challenges could be used to “steal your grace or block you from foreseeing or prophesying for good,” suggesting a potential for spiritual manipulation.
The traditional healing community has also weighed in, expressing reservations about the nature of the challenge. Veteran healer Sekuru Kafera, with decades of experience, dismissed Makandiwa’s move, stating, “Since I started this journey of healing people in 1972, I have seen such ridiculous threats as Makandiwa’s.” His words echoed a sentiment shared by many in the traditional healing community: that Makandiwa’s challenge is a theatrical display, devoid of genuine spiritual substance.
Sekuru Musundagore, another respected traditional healer, emphasized the sanctity of spiritual work, arguing that it should not be reduced to a mere competition. “If Makandiwa is targeting someone, he must be direct with them because what he is starting is so big.” He then turned the tables on Makandiwa, challenging his own prophetic abilities: “As for me, I will put $1,000 at the same time, and I will also put something in my pockets to see if he himself is a true prophet.” Sekuru Musundagore also highlighted the shared purpose of prophets and traditional healers, stating that “both prophets and traditional healers serve the same purpose—helping people in need.”
Despite the criticism, Prophet Makandiwa has also garnered support from some quarters. “Elijah dealt heavily with false prophets of Baari. We want Makandiwa to do the same,” said a woman who preferred to remain anonymous, referencing the biblical confrontation between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of the pagan god Baal.
When the news crew attempted to solicit further comments from Prophet Makandiwa regarding his challenge, his spokesperson, Prophet Prime Kufa, stated that the man of cloth would not be granting any interviews.
“A number of media houses have called seeking an interview with Prophet Makandiwa,” Prophet Kufa explained. “He said he is not taking questions since he has said everything in the post circulating.”
