Stembile Maponga, a faith healer from Unit N Chitungwiza, who is affiliated to the Johane Masowe Wechishanu apostolic sect, said the pressure being put on faith healers was unnecessary considering that some did not charge their clients.
“We offer our services for free but the officials do not want to understand that,” said Maponga, who fled her home and advised her clients to come back later when Zinatha officials came and demanded that she register and pay $50 annually.
“The registration process is selective,” said another faith healer who refused to be identified.
George Kandiyero, the director general and acting President, confirmed the crackdown. “We have always been calling on faith healers to register for the protection of citizens. The majority of these unregistered healers are swindling people of their money and goods under the guise of religion,” he said.
Kandiyero justified the charge and said unlike other medical practitioners, faith healers did not pay tax and were supposed to register with Zinatha.
“Being affiliated with us comes with a lot of benefits, including training and a number of activities to help both traditional and faith healers on how they can engage in their activities without compromising the health of their clients.
“We want to promote transparency on how faith healers operate and hold them accountable in the event that people have complaints against them,” he said.
Vaida Mushonga from Glen View said the registration blitz would deprive people who sought the services of faith healers of their valued service. “Clients are going to be told to come at night and because people are in dire need of the services of the faith healers, this is going to cause a lot of problems instead of bringing solutions,” she said.
United Family International Church leader Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa has in the past refused to register with the Zimbabwe Traditional Medical Council, the body responsible for implementing the Traditional Medical Practitioners Act, arguing that he is neither a traditional medical practitioner nor a spirit medium.
Post published in: News