Makandiwa US$1m pocket bet ‘a distraction’

ANALYSTS have described the US$1 million bet made by self-styled prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa to spiritual leaders, traditional healers and sorcerers, who can correctly predict what will be in his pocket on Sunday as a sideshow to distract Zimbabweans from pressing national issues.

While the United Family International Church (UFIC) leader frames the spectacle as an effort to “expose fake prophets” and combat ritual violence, critics argue that the stunt is meant to be a distraction from Zimbabwe’s escalating political and socio-economic crises.

During a live broadcast on Wednesday, Makandiwa defended the bet.

This story is for NewsDay subscribers.