The Sunday Mail
Rutendo Nyeve
Sunday News Reporter
IT was all pomp and fanfare as hundreds of United Family International Church (UFIC) congregants held a ceremony to celebrate the purchase of two buildings in Bulawayo.
The buildings were officially opened by Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa and his wife Ruth yesterday as part of the church’s expansion programme.
The two buildings that cost more than US$1 million are the UFIC Donnington Basilica and the Bulawayo City Branch that is located in Paddonhurst.
From 2011 to 2022 UFIC has expanded into the Southern region establishing 10 branches in Beitbridge, Victoria Falls, Hwange, Gwanda, Plumtree, Inyathi, Bulawayo City, Nketa Donnington, Cowdray Park, Entumbane and Pumula.
However, 2022 has seen the church purchasing two buildings in the city. The first building known as the Donnington Basilica was fully purchased this year under the leadership and guidance of Pastors Prior and Belinda Mupanduki.
Prophet Makandiwa officially opened the branch in the morning before heading to Paddonhurst where he officially opened yet another branch at the Sadie Kaplan Building.
The church building was purchased last year when the country was under lockdown. Pastors Tinashe and Nyaradzo Zuva led the purchase of the Sadie Kaplan Building.
Prophet Makandiwa promised his congregants a special service to be conducted today at the newly acquired city centre branch.
“I would really want to appreciate the work done by Pastor Zuva and his wife. It is not easy in this region to acquire such a property. There are a lot of requirements that are beyond finances.
“I will not preach today, but make sure tomorrow you come and understand what it means for you as congregants to invest in this building. Truly there is something that God wants to do tomorrow (today).
“That is when you will understand that we are not just opening a church, but we are opening something more than that,” said Prophet Makandiwa.
In an interview with Sunday News on the sidelines of the opening, UFIC spokesperson Pastor Prime Kufa said the purchasing of the buildings was a loud announcement of the church’s presence in the city and an assuring statement that it was here to stay.
“Bulawayo has bought three properties in Nketa, Donnington and Kelvin North. This expansion means a lot to us as UFIC. It announces our presence, gives us more visibility.
“You know as a church if you are renting a company let’s say ABC, people will always see ABC, but if you buy your own building people are then able to see UFIC. It is a statement that we are here to stay,” said Pastor Kufa.
Affirming that the expansion drive was being implemented nationally and internationally, Pastor Kufa said the church’s congregation contributed towards the acquisition of the properties inspired by the Word that the prophet preaches.
“This is a national expansion drive. I think currently we have more than 137 branches nationwide.
“Internationally we have four branches in South Africa, two Zambia, one in Australia, one in the UK and one in the United States of America. The word that the Prophet preaches inspires people to contribute towards the acquisition of these properties.
“People who were part of this project don’t have the means to splash cash, but something within them told them to contribute towards this cause.
“No one contributed a significant some of money, but they just contributed those bits and pieces. So, I can say it’s the way in which the prophet preaches that gives us direction,” said Pastor Kufa.
