A preacher from the Zion Christian Church has sparked widespread debate after making a strong declaration about the fate of late Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, saying he had already entered heaven.
The preacher made the controversial remarks during a church broadcast on Friday, October 2, as mourners continued to come to terms with Chivayo’s death. In the footage, two clergymen dressed in dark formal jackets can be seen standing behind microphones beneath a white tent decorated with blue drapes. Both men wore the church’s distinctive green badge featuring a white star.
While addressing the congregation and offering condolences to Chivayo’s family and Zimbabweans, one of the preachers made a definitive statement about the businessman’s spiritual destination.
“As we join the Chivayo family in mourning, and the nation of Zimbabwe, the president included, it is without doubt that he has gone to heaven,” the preacher said.
Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, were among five people who died after a helicopter carrying them crashed at Kudenga Farm near Marondera on Wednesday, September 30. According to reports circulating after the incident, the preacher’s statement was linked to claims that the couple had accepted Christianity shortly before the fatal crash.
The church’s remarks quickly gained attention after the broadcast was shared online, prompting intense reactions from Zimbabweans and other social media users. While some engaged with the statement from a religious perspective, others questioned whether a preacher could confidently determine the eternal fate of someone who had died.
Some commentators raised theological questions about the timing of judgment and the Christian belief in the second coming of Jesus Christ. Others pointed to biblical teachings concerning wealth and salvation, while one social media user questioned the purpose of earthly existence if everyone who dies is immediately guaranteed entry into heaven.
The debate also highlighted broader disagreements about the role of religious leaders when speaking about death, salvation and divine judgment.
Meanwhile, Chivayo’s family has continued with preparations following his death. Family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo said the late businessman had clearly expressed his wishes concerning his children and assured mourners that those wishes would be honoured as the family proceeds with funeral arrangements.