Embattled Makandiwa gets reprieve

Pascal Nyasha, a motivational speaker and entrepreneur, last week made an urgent High Court application where he also sought to bar Makandiwa’s United Family International (UFI) church agents and workers from manufacturing, producing, selling, dealing and distributing Christian Spiritual Link cards.

But High Court Judge Justice Tedious Karwi ruled that the case was not urgent, giving Makandiwa some breathing space.

The popular pastor is being investigated by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe over the airtime cards. There were reports that Makandiwa had fled the country but his church said he was on holiday.

In a High Court application last week through his lawyer Wellington Pasipanodya, Nyasha accused Makandiwa of hijacking his airtime communication project.

Nyasha, claims “Christian Spiritual Link” system was his invention arguing that Makandiwa and his church only changed the name from the original “Evangelicard.”

Makandiwa’s lawyer Nickiel Mushangwe from Mushangwe and Company, said he was happy with the ruling.

“We are happy. I think it was frivolous for them to approach the courts,” he said.

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“They should stop bothering the man of God. However, they are free to negotiate with us but the concept of the cards was my client’s.”

Pasipanodya said his client was willing to sit down with Makandiwa and negotiate an out of court settlement.

The communication link requires church members to buy an airtime card inscribed “Christian Spiritual Link” which costs US$3.

Members scratch the card and send the numbers to some cellphone numbers depending on each member’s network service.

Those with Econet lines send the secret numbers to 0773 341 040 to 59, Telecel subscribers to 0714 768 502 to 11 while those with NetOne lines send to 0735 451 851 to 60.

After sending the numbers and receiving confirmation a subscriber receives devotional SMS messages from Makandiwa for six consecutive days. Those interested members can recharge through buying more airtime.