Zimbabwe pastor arrested for prophesying death of Robert Mugabe

Jardine Malado Thursday, January 19, 2017

Robert Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe, attends the 12th African Union Summit Feb. 2, 2009 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. | Wikimedia Commons/U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jesse B. Awalt

A Zimbabwe pastor was arrested by the authorities after he predicted that President Robert Mugabe would die on Oct. 17 this year.

Philip Mugadza was initially charged with undermining the authority of the president but one of his lawyers said that the police changed their mind. The pastor was later charged with causing offence to persons of a particular race or religion.

"I am here for the prophecy I gave out that the President will die in October 17," Mugadza told journalist inside the Harare Police station before he was charged, according to The Telegraph.

Mugadza noted that October 2017 was a "very special date, because of the number seven and at the same time, 2017 collides with 37 years by which Zanu PF has been ruling this beautiful nation of Zimbabwe. It is not to say that I am glad to announce this but, I am just saying it because that's what God told me."

When he appeared before the Harare Magistrates' Courts on Wednesday, he complained that he was detained beyond the stipulated 48 hours.

"We have a preliminary complaint, that the accused's rights were infringed as he was arrested on Monday at 9am and was brought to court at 10:12am yesterday," said Gift Mtisi, who is one of Mugadza's lawyers.

Mtisi said that the pastor could face a fine of US$300 or a maximum of six months in prison, or both.

Mugadza first caught media attention in December 2015 when he staged a one-man protest against Mugabe at the Victoria Falls resort during a national conference of the ruling Zanu-PF party. In April last year, he chained himself to a pole while holding a Bible in one hand and a cross on another.

In October, Mugadza submitted a petition to Pope Francis, asking him to excommunicate Mugabe, who is known to be a Catholic. He stated in the petition that Zimbabweans have been subjected to "unimaginable levels of poverty" under Mugabe's rule.

Last November, he was arrested after wrapping himself up with the national flag during a protest. He was charged with displaying the flag without seeking the permission of the government.