A Harare couple that took United Family International Church leader Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa and wife Ruth to court for alleged loss of revenue following the sale of their house is now pushing for a negotiated settlement.
Blessing and Upenyu Mashangwa who appeared before High Court judge, His Worship Justice Owen Tagu last week to answer to fraud charges by a Harare woman, Jemina Gumbo, who bought the house from them in 2012 but was not given her money.The matter was deferred for two weeks to give the parties time to solve some technical issues while also pursuing an out-of-court settlement.Gumbo’s legal representative, Jacqueline Sande of Sande and Associates, confirmed this latest development.Sande said:
“The trial did not proceed because there are some technical issues that the parties should address before the trial commences. We were given two weeks to attend to the technical issues. The parties may also settle the case out of court.’
He added:
“The Mashangwas have made the proposal and if the parties do not reach an out-of-court settlement, the matter goes to trial.”
The couple has been in the spotlight after taking Makandiwa to the High Court challenging his prophecies.
The Mashangwas claim they lost $200 000 after their house was attached and sold for $500 000 when they failed to service a debt despite Makandiwa’s “prophecy” that the auction would be cancelled.
Gumbo claims the couple had sold the same house to her in 2012 for $800 000.
It is yet to be seen if this will become the horsetail of a hot-button case which has not only cost thousands of dollars to all the involved parties but has also put the credibility of such a revered power couple as the Makandiwas. Men of cloth can be called worse, but false prophets, that is a deadly blow to their integrity and the God that they represent.
Source: The Standard (edited)
