One Zimbabwean is among the more than 80 people who died when a guest house at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan) collapsed last Friday.
MDC-T Mashonaland West provincial chairman Greenwich Ndanga was confirmed as the Zimbabwean who died when the guest house collapsed.
Several other Zimbabweans that visited Temitope Balogun “TB” Joshua including a prominent Bulawayo businessman who runs a popular drinking spot escaped unharmed.
As more bodies continue to be retrieved from under the rubble of the six-storey building, some of the Zimbabweans that had gone to consult the popular preacher are expected to fly back into the country on Sunday.
A statement posted on the Scoan’s official Facebook page contained condolence messages and reassurances of the church’s commitment to ensuring survivors get adequate care.
In addition, the statement also emphasised the church authorities’ conviction that “attackers” were behind the building collapse and that “in due course, God will reveal the perpetrators of this unfortunate tragedy”.
Watch video of the collapse here:
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Meanwhile, MDC-T legislator Ruth Labode, who is a partner of Scoan and Emmanuel TV in Zimbabwe, yesterday confirmed that there were a number of Zimbabweans in Nigeria at the time of the tragedy, but none were harmed.
TB Joshua has a large following in Zimbabwe.
Labode, however, said she does not organise any trips to the Nigerian preacher.
“I am a partner and not representative. I don’t organise trips to Scoan. Yes, Zimbabweans were there and were not affected. The fact that they will arrive here on Sunday tells you that they were not affected. So, please don’t continue asking me stupid questions,” said Labode.
Many of the victims are believed to be South Africans.
On Tuesday, South African President Jacob Zuma said at least 67 of his compatriots had died in the accident, which he described as one of the worst tragedies in his country’s recent history.
Prominent Zimbabweans known to have sought spiritual and physical healing from Scoan include former Prime Minister and MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai, Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi, Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Chris Mushohwe and Zifa boss and former Premier Service Medical Aid Society chief executive officer Cuthbert Dube.
