By Sukoluhle Ndlovu
United Family International (UFI) Church leader Emmanuel Makandiwa has sparked debate after claiming that businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, knew their time was coming and were in a hurry to complete their charitable work.
“What is important to note, for those that care, is that the couple knew their time to be taken and desired for that time to be while they were at their best, and their giving and helping people was to be completed on time hence, they were in a rush to give and indeed SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST,” Makandiwa said.
Chivayo, his wife and three other people died when their helicopter crashed in the Marondera area on Wednesday.
Makandiwa said he had recently spent time with the couple at their home, where they had supper and held private discussions.
“I thank God that we had time together at their house where we had supper and private discussions in that and previous other meetings whose purposes remain confidential,” he said.
His comments have drawn attention particularly because of Chivayo’s activities in the days leading up to his death, when the businessman continued handing out cash, vehicles and other gifts to individuals and organisations.
On the day of the crash, Chivayo announced that he had bought vehicles and given cash to two lawyers who had assisted him over the years.
He ended the post by saying: “SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST.”
Makandiwa also addressed questions about whether he had foreseen the crash, saying he did not claim to know everything.
“As for the question of whether I saw the accident prophetically before time or not as some may wonder; that, to me, was rendered unimportant when I stated in time past my inability to see everything,” he said.
“I reiterate that I have never seen everything, I don’t see everything, and I won’t see everything, only God does because he has no gift to see.”
Makandiwa did not state what the couple allegedly knew about their impending deaths or what had prompted them to accelerate their giving.
His remarks have nevertheless fuelled discussion online, with particular focus on his claim that the couple knew their “time to be taken” and Chivayo’s final social media post in which he said he had “SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST.”
