A deepening feud between controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo and apostolic church leader Madzibaba Moses Gwanzura is threatening to divide ZANU-PF’s support base, as tensions over access to President Emmerson Mnangagwa intensify.
At the heart of the dispute is a struggle for influence within the ruling party’s religious support structures, with Gwanzura accusing Wicknell Chivayo of misrepresenting himself as a spiritual figure to curry favour with apostolic sects and monopolize proximity to the president.
Speaking during a three-day national prayer gathering in Harare, Gwanzura, leader of the Vapostori nemaZion for Economic Development (VED), launched a blistering verbal attack on Wicknell Chivayo, alleging that he is misleading the public and exploiting religious identity for personal gain.
“People are being told that apostolic leaders are receiving money and cars through this man who parades himself as one of us,” said Gwanzura. “That is a lie. None of us received any money, vehicles, or tenders from him. He is not a true apostolic follower. He doesn’t even pray.”
He added, “If Wicknell Chivayo is truly a believer, why couldn’t he even convert his own wife? His spouse refuses to attend apostolic church gatherings, refuses to follow our ways, and lives contrary to our faith.”
Gwanzura accused Wicknell Chivayo of hijacking the image of the apostolic community to win political favour and secure lucrative government contracts. He warned that the deception was undermining genuine church efforts and distorting public perception.
“Tell the President that the real apostolic believers are poor, but we still love and vote for ZANU-PF from the heart,” he said. “We do not worship for gifts or attention. We have never received boreholes or government support, despite our loyalty.”
He further accused Wicknell Chivayo of blocking other church leaders from accessing the President, allegedly portraying himself as the sole religious intermediary.
“They prevent genuine pastors from getting to the State House. These imposters parade around with apostolic regalia, but their actions reveal they are not true worshippers. They are heathens abusing our names and faith for selfish ends,” he said.
Mnangagwa Access Row Between Wicknell Chivayo and Vapostori Leader Sparks ZANU-PF Rift
Gwanzura claimed that not a single member of his church has benefited from tenders or vehicles linked to Chivayo’s philanthropic image.
“If you’ve ever heard that apostolic followers received vehicles or tenders, that’s false. We lack transport to even attend our own services,” he said. “Still, we remain committed to preaching the good of ZANU-PF not because we expect to be rewarded, but because of faith and loyalty.”
Gwanzura urged the authorities to arrest individuals falsely claiming to represent apostolic churches while enriching themselves through political connections and state contracts.
He repeated a stinging attack on Wicknell Chivayo’s family life to reinforce his point: “Even his wife refuses to attend church. If you ask her why she won’t come to fellowship, she’ll say it’s not her thing. That’s the reality.”
The feud comes amid growing criticism from churches over the proliferation of church-based affiliates claiming to represent religious communities under the banner of “economic empowerment” and “development.” Many see them as opportunistic structures designed to solicit money and political capital rather than represent genuine grassroots believers.
A senior government source revealed that President Mnangagwa has recently pulled out of events organized by some of these groups after being warned that the affiliations were misleading.
“President Mnangagwa has, on several occasions, cancelled appearances at events hosted by breakaway religious affiliates after realizing that they inflate support figures and exaggerate their influence,” said the insider.
In one such incident, Minister Lovemore Matuke, who advises Mnangagwa on internal political matters, reportedly urged the President to skip a planned visit to the ZANU-PF headquarters for an event hosted by a factional affiliate. According to the source, Matuke warned that attending could erode the party’s credibility ahead of the 2028 elections.
“These organisers had limited support and were misleading the leadership,” the source said. “The fear is that aligning with such groups could alienate core church constituencies and damage ZANU-PF’s support base.”
As political competition heats up ahead of the next election cycle, the battle for religious endorsement is becoming increasingly contentious. With Wicknell Chivayo continuing to portray himself as a benefactor of the faith community and Gwanzura openly challenging his credentials, ZANU-PF now finds itself caught in a spiritual tug-of-war with significant implications for its voter outreach strategy.
The ruling party may soon be forced to mediate between its political benefactors and traditional church supporters—both of whom claim to speak for the people, but with increasingly diverging messages.
Source- Bulawayo24
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