In a Sunday News editorial, the focus is placed on modern-day ‘prophets’ who live a lavish lifestyle and make their multitude of followers do seemingly crazy things.
Two of the so-called prosperity preachers are South African-based Shepherd Bushiri, and founder of locally-based Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder and leader, Walter Magaya.
After Bushiri was recently arrested for money-laundering by South African special police unit, the Hawks, his followers filled the streets:
As they rolled on the ground, spoke in tongues and cursed police cars with chants of ‘Fire’, it was impossible not to admire the power that Bushiri has over his flock. It is the same power that other prophets like Walter Magaya seem to hold over their followers as well.
In traditional churches, pastors and other leaders were always revered and thought of highly but few have ever managed to reach the spellbinding influence that Bushiri and his prosperity preaching cousins have attained.
… Besides a private jet, Bushiri also boasts of owning a fleet of luxury cars, including a Maserati, a Rolls-Royce, an Aston Martin and an R3 million Mercedes G63. He also bought his daughter a Maserati in December 2017 as a gift for her sixth birthday, ten years before she is legally allowed to drive.
Such extravagance might attract the disapproval of those that do not subscribe to Bushiri’s church, but it seems to be admired by those who flock to his church week after week seeking wisdom and religious insight from the designer suit wearing 35-year-old.