By James Gwati- The government has warned self-proclaimed prophets who have started telling their followers that they are ready to give them anointing oils that cure COVID-19 if they come to their gatherings.

One such so-called prophet is the leader of UFIC — prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa who has since the outbreak of the pandemic been reassuring his followers that they will be “spared” from the virus through prayer and divine protection.

Makandiwa, who has also been accused of perpetuating conspiracy theories through allusions to the “mark of the beast” that is mentioned in the Bible as he warns his congregants about “microchip” implants, made a climb-down saying he was not preventing people from getting vaccinated but there should be adequate testing of their efficacy first.

Uebert Angels and Walter Magaya are also part of Makandiwa’s tricks of duping desperate followers by selling them what they call anointing oil which they say would help enrich them.