NYANGA – President Robert Mugabe’s spokesperson and Secretary for Media, Information and Publicity George Charamba yesterday lashed out at local and international Pentecostal church leaders for reportedly misleading their followers into believing a “prayer” could reverse HIV and Aids infections.
Addressing a media capacity-building workshop in Nyanga, Charamba accused Pentecostal church leaders of giving false hope to their followers and discouraging them from getting treatment.
He also castigated traditionalists who claimed to possess powers to reverse chronic illnesses.
“They (church leaders) come with all sorts of claims. Those who say we treat the virus just give hope to the people and nothing else,” Charamba said.
“You have TB Joshua (popular Nigerian televangelist) and his claims. What do we do to such false succour given to people living with HIV? They are parading themselves as curers of the condition and this is the whole area creating problems for us.” Charamba’s scathing attack on Pentecostal church leaders came as more and more senior Zanu PF officials were reportedly flocking to TB Joshua’s church in Nigeria to seek spiritual and physical healing.
