Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Calls for Fast to “Save Zimbabwe from Satan” Amid Uebert Angel’s Controversial Shadow
Harare, Zimbabwe – March 29, 2025, 08:40 AM GMT
By Dorrothy Moyo | Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the influential Nigerian televangelist and founder of Christ Embassy, has called for a nationwide fast in Zimbabwe on Sunday, March 31, 2025. Oyakhilome claims the country is under threat from “Satan’s modus operandi” due to a planned demonstration on the same day, which he warns will not be peaceful and risks plunging the nation into chaos. His remarks, delivered in a video circulated by Zimbabwean government spokesman Nick Mnangagwa, stand in stark contrast to the actions of his own protégé, Uebert Angel, whose violent religious practices and alleged criminal enterprises have cast a long shadow over the region.
Oyakhilome’s impassioned plea comes amid escalating tensions in Zimbabwe, where citizens are reeling from economic hardship and governance issues. In the video, he urges Zimbabwean Christians to “fast and pray for your country” to thwart what he describes as a devilish plot to destabilize the nation. “Don’t let the devil take over your country,” he declares. “These smart talkers who say they’re going to fix your country—where have they been? This call to arms, this invitation to uprisings, is not the solution. It’s a deception.”
Yet, Oyakhilome’s call for spiritual intervention rings hollow to many observers, given his close ties to Uebert Angel, a self-proclaimed prophet implicated in the notorious Goldmafia scandal. Angel, Oyakhilome’s spiritual mentee, has been accused of orchestrating money laundering schemes that siphon public funds from African nations, including Zimbabwe, to destabilize governments—a practice allegedly dating back to Kenya in 1992. Far from fasting to protect Zimbabwe, Angel’s actions have arguably contributed to its woes, raising questions about Oyakhilome’s silence on his protégé’s transgressions.
Adding fuel to the fire, viral videos have recently surfaced showing Angel instructing his followers to carry out violent night raids on critics, including journalists. In one chilling clip, Angel references the biblical figure Phineas, saying, “Without praying, Phineas took a knife and stabbed the men he saw committing adultery.” He goes further, urging his followers in Shona, “Munhu anongoda kurohwa mbama, zvekuti anyorereyi ichi, zvekunamata tombosiya!”—translated as, “Wayward reporters should be beaten or thrashed without hesitation, prayers be damned!” Angel even assures his enforcers, “Do you think I’ll let you rot in jail if you’re jailed for me? No, I won’t!” These revelations paint a picture of a man whose religious fervor is matched only by his penchant for brutality—a stark contrast to Oyakhilome’s call for peace and prayer.
The Goldmafia scandal, which implicated Angel in a sprawling web of corruption, has already damaged economies across Africa, with Zimbabwe among the hardest hit. Angel recently claimed he fears assassination if he returns to the United Kingdom, where authorities are probing his role in the illicit gold trade. Yet, Oyakhilome has conspicuously avoided addressing Angel’s actions, instead framing the March 31 demonstration as the true threat to Zimbabwe’s stability. Critics argue this selective outrage exposes a troubling hypocrisy: while Oyakhilome warns of “selfish people who want to take over the country,” his own mentee stands accused of doing just that through illicit means.
Zimbabweans on social media have expressed outrage over Oyakhilome’s remarks, with many pointing to Angel’s $15 million “donation” to Oyakhilome’s ministry last year as evidence of a compromised allegiance. “He cares nothing for Zimbabweans, protecting his ‘spiritual son,’ a looter and fraudster,” one X user posted. Another questioned, “Pastor Chris is talking Zim politics because Uebert Angel has fed him gibberish—where’s the justice in that?”
As the March 31 demonstration looms, Oyakhilome’s call for a fast has ignited a firestorm of debate. Is he genuinely concerned for Zimbabwe’s soul, or is he shielding a mentee whose violent and corrupt practices have arguably done more to harm the nation than any protest could? With Angel’s shadow looming large, Oyakhilome’s spiritual rhetoric risks being drowned out by the clanging reality of his protégé’s deeds. For now, Zimbabweans are left to weigh the words of a pastor against the actions of his disciple—and decide who, if anyone, truly speaks for their salvation.
