By Takura Zhangazha*
Since the tragic passing in a helicopter crash of Wicknell Chivhayo in late September this year (2026) members of the apostolic sect referred to as Johanne Masowe eChishanu (JMC) have either gone apoplectic on social media.
Or are in some sort of religious reticence.
The larger than life character role that Wicknell Chivhayo (also a designated a provincial hero by the current government) played in their religious sect/church was apparent for all Zimbabweans to see.
He bought cars for individual leaders of the various JMC's prayer groups.
It turns out they dont have districts or 'structures' in a typical organisational sense.
You can check on who among these JMC leaders received luxury vehicles on social media after 'seeing Victor'.
It is in the formal and populist public domain.
The late provincial hero also gave buses to various prayer groups of the JMC for them to use to attend big prayer meetings of the same.
Including one held in Highfields, Harare at what was referred to as the 'Gwanzura Shrine' on 15 August 2026 that president Mnangagwa personally attended and spoke at.
With Wicknell Chivayo in highly influential tow.
While I generally avoid writing about the mixing/interactions of religion with political ambitions or influence, on this one the social media furore raised by the 'madzibabas' has made it a matter of public interest to analyse.
In previous writings on religion at best I would sometimes refer to it in Marxist terms, such as it being the 'opium of the people'- a now very stoic term to be honest.
Because religion appears to be intrinsic to an emerging 'false national consciousness' in Zimbabwe.
Unlike the days of the liberation struggle and in the late 1980s and late 1990s in Zimbabwe.
Also, when one writes on religion and politics in contemporary Zimbabwe, one has to also be sensitive to the right of freedom of worship within the ambit of our broader 2013 Constitutional Bill of Rights.(While we still have it!)
Including being also sensitive to friends and family in various churches such as the JMC that are whole-hearted believers in their own way.
Or own right.
So yes, I 'gat frenz' (a popular Zimbabwean slang terminology) that attend the Johanne Masowe eChishanu church.
Some liked Wicknell Chivayo's philanthropy even beyond the prayer congregations they belong to. As long as they got the buses, cash or cars!
Others felt that it was a departure from their multiple interpretations of their own faith. As determined by their founder Johanne Masowe.
Their differences came to glaring light via social media and accusations of a lack of 'chiporofiti' to prevent their benefactor Wicknell Chivhayo's tragic death in a helicopter crash.
Including accusations of prior visits to holy shrines (graves) without permission.
This was because, as it turns out, the JMC functions without a central organisational hierarchy but on the basis of what they refer to as 'tsananguro' (explanation of and the meaning of the faith from Johanne Masowe weChishanu's own words).
This is also as enabled by a 'muporofiti' or 'vaporofiti' (prophet/s) who sort of function independent of each other most of the time.
In their various prophetic power capacities and their own congregants
Then there is a structure of 'vadare' (committee of the gathering) who are generally assumed to be the elders or most committed of the congregation/faith.
In all of this there are assumptions on one side of either 'genuine faith' and 'genuine prophets'.
On the other there are accusations of 'false prophets' and again 'non-genuine interpretations' of the 'faith'.
That is what I could glean from a brief conversation with my friend of the JMC faith.
And also that the closest they had to a hierachical structure was an implied understanding of their faith having something called the 'Top 5'.
One which was disagreeing on the late Wicknell's largesse and what it meant to their faithful multitudes beyond its materialism.
As an outsider both to the JMC church/faith and the internal role it is playing in the ruling Zanu Pf party before and after Chivayo's passing on, I have made three (3) observations.
The first is that the Johanne Masowe eChishanu (JMC) church wields significant political influence in Zimbabwean politics. Especially in the immediate where this influence was expanded by Wicknell Chivayo's 'philanthropic' role in their faith.
Including getting a serving president to sit barefoot at their Gwanzura shrine this year.
And that in this first observation, the state and the JMC are closely intertwined in both ruling party and church politics to create a specifically unchallengeable political hegemony based on mixing 'prophecy'/ 'chiporofiti' with personal material and political ambitions.
In the second observation, I have also learnt that there are narratives that seek to undermine Zimbabwe as a clearly secular state.
Where religion and politics are given to be at least legally and in cultural assumption, separated.
In other words where power comes before the prayer and not vice versa. Or where political ideology, organisation supersedes superstition and prayers atop mountains!
Unless in a moment of 'false consciousness' one seeks to create, as an example 'pre-Soviet Union 'Rasputins' all over the country to influence a Zimbawean presidency that was never designed to replicate a historically contested Munhumutapa empire.
From the behaviour of the JMC cdes and other celebrity pentecostal pastors, they demonstrate a tendency toward 'Rasptunism'.
One in which they think their religioisity and proximity political power gives them unique status to talk about anything and everything political.
Not only in Zanu Pf's evident political succession battles but also their own churches' and influence circles.
The third and final lesson I have learnt is that the Johanne Masowe eChishanu (JMC) leaders, vaporofiti (self claimed or otherwise) are exceedingly humourous and social media savvy!
Not only in the way they have been attacking each other after Wicknell Chivhayo passed on.
But also in their names. For example 'Madzibaba Kobo' -'Madzibaba DVD', 'Madzibaba Flocha Dispenser' among others.
And how they all for example claim to be the individually chosen mu 'porofit' wa Johanne. Anoona!
*Takura Zhangazha writes here in his personal capacity
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