Makandiwa Tells Non-Tithers To Leave His Church In Viral Sermon
A Sunday sermon by United Family International Church leader Emmanuel Makandiwa has set Zimbabwe ablaze after he used explosive, hyperbolic language to confront members who dodge tithing. The Prophet told his congregation that anyone calling him spiritual father while devouring his tithe would face his wrath, a fiery rhetorical outburst that instantly went viral and polarised the nation.
Makandiwa laid out his frustrations from the pulpit in a clip now circulating widely on social media. He did not hold back, directing his ire at those who claim him as a spiritual covering while rejecting the principle of giving ten percent of their income.
Makandiwa said:
“It’s impossible for you to open your mouth here and call me a spiritual father, and yet you devour my tithe. Tell your grandfather that, that’s your spiritual father. I have pastors who do not pay tithe.”
He then issued his now infamous warning, using vivid hyperbole to underscore his displeasure.
“But I’m telling you, don’t ever open your mouth and call me a spiritual father. Let me hear you calling me a spiritual father. I’ll beat you up,” the Prophet declared, drawing a sharp rhetorical line for those who question the doctrine.
Chegumi bruhaha
If you build a 3 storey mansion atop a hill it needs to be maintained, and no better way to raise working capital than to go back to the your usual source of venture capital, the congregation.
Truer and tested method for millennia pic.twitter.com/B9VC2mhIsl
— mmatigari (@matigary) June 29, 2026
The sermon detonated on X, where users wasted no time connecting the demand for tithes to the prophet’s lifestyle. One user, @matigari, posted a message framing the tithing push as a straightforward business model.
@matigari wrote:
“If you build a 3 storey mansion atop a hill it needs to be maintained, and no better way to raise working capital than to go back to the your usual source of venture capital, the congregation. Truer and tested method for millennia.”
The thread swelled with sharp criticism. Joe Geoffrey posted:
“Now they have grown the guts to extort you right on camera. That’s why Kagame banned these prophetic churches! Daylight robbers they are.”
@mukogivy, posting as GIFT BELOVED, suggested the rebellion against tithing is an open secret, writing:
“Handiti ari kutaura kuti pane ma pastors ake ari kuramba kubhadhara chegumi achiti its an old testament thing .. it means vanhu vanozviziva (people know).”
Critics Label Tithing Demand As Daylight Extortion
Many users lambasted what they see as selective scripture use to fund a lavish lifestyle. Kudzi Manyere remarked:
“These fake prophets cherry pick whatever Bible verses dzinoita kuti waite mari (that make you get money). The same fake prophet will downplay maverses e Sabbath because apparently its ‘old doctrine’. Inhata vanhu awa (these people are liars).”
The indignation extended to the culture of submission surrounding such figures. @duncanChig expressed his disbelief, saying:
“I cannt imagine old men vane ndebvu nemhuri (with beards and families) going on about bowing, fearing saying baba (father) to another man .. its embarassing to the last number.”
@SiveMunyaBwanya raised the political stakes, declaring:
“If I become the next President this nonsense will stop. These are pretenders.”
The post ‘I Will Beat You Up’: Prophet Makandiwa Divides Zimbabweans With Sermon On Tithing appeared first on iHarare News.
