AT LEAST 10 000 foreign dignitaries are expected to attend the Emmanuel Makandiwa-led United Families International Church (UFIC)’s mega Easter fiesta dubbed Judgment Night 2 in Harare tomorrow.
PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI SENIOR REPORTER
Organisers told NewsDay that the event was oversubscribed and could present a security nightmare as 150 000 people were expected to fill the 60 000 capacity National Sports Stadium.
UFIC spokesperson Prime Kufakunesu told NewsDay yesterday that some foreign delegates who had not registered for the programme earlier phoned them upon arrival in the country to make accommodation enquiries.
The church has since made provision for an overflow to accommodate foreign guests, he said.
“On the ground it looks like everything is in place, but we are just discovering that we could have under-estimated our numbers, especially in terms of our international visitors. We are having incidences of those that have not booked with us and forwarded their names.
They are just phoning us from Harare. It looks like most people didn’t bother to register after all,” Kufakunesu said.
He said they had estimated that they would have between 8 000 and 10 000 foreign visitors, but indications were that the number would be exceeded. Provisions for an overflow have been made and some of the guests would be accommodated in the B-Arena of the NSS.
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“We actually have two podiums, one in the main stadium and the other in the B Arena, so the Man of God will be ministering from both,” Kufakunesu said.
Several prominent local and international names were expected to attend the event, but UFIC was not prepared to release their names yet.
Yesterday, arrangements were still being made to have a live broadcast on the church’s free-to-air channel, Christ TV, and talks with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) for the provision of an uplink were still underway.
Tourism and Hospitality minister Walter Mzembi has endorsed Judgment Night 2, saying it dovetailed with the government’s vision of promoting religious tourism.
Speaking at a press conference, Mzembi urged the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority to promote “home hospitality” so that the international guests coming for the event would find enough accommodation. “I just thought by way of this very brief Press conference to share with you that we are endorsing Judgment Night 100%, 200%,” Mzembi said.
“We want it to happen peacefully because we see the value, the cultural values that we want to promote amongst our people, the religious and spiritual values that this country needs so much going forward,” he said.
Mzembi said it was rare that the country could attract 8 000 international arrivals, a feat that only UFIC could achieve.
“It’s seldom that we will get those numbers that will give us 100% hotel occupancy,” he said. “Judgment Night has the potential to become a major Christian event worldwide in the next few years, something like our own religious World Cup. It is in this area of its own size that government has been attracted.”
Kufakunesu said they had been encouraged by the supportas it was good to have such partnerships between churches and government. He said they were excited that the event “has caught the eye of government”.
He said those who would attend the event should expect new things and surprises, but stressed that they should focus more on the message that would be preached rather than the miracles, which he said were an integral part of Makandiwa’s ministry.
“God would never repeat a thing in the very same way. The Bible says his mercies are new every morning, Every day God has new plans. People should come expecting to hear the Word of God,” he said.
“Obviously, when Prophet Makandiwa ministers, there are miracles, signs, wonders and prophecies. But everything is rooted in the word of God. You may get a miracle, but if you are not rooted in the Word of God, it’s easy to lose it.”
On security, Kufakunesu said they have put in place watertight security measures in partnership with the Zimbabwe Republic Police and other private security companies.
Early this week, church members marched through the streets of Harare ahead of Judgment Night 2 from the City Sports Centre to Africa Unity Square to promote the programme.
International visitors already in the country for the programme also participated in the march, which stretched for more than 3km, led by the Zimbabwe National Army brass band and drum majorettes.
Top South African gospel divas Hlengiwe Mhlaba and Deborah Fraser will perform alongside local acts including Joyce Simeti, Gospel Power, Leonard Zhakata and Charles and Olivia Charamba.
