President Robert Mugabe has mocked frequent rumours of his death, saying he has been resurrected more often than Jesus Christ.
This follows an announcement by Zimbabwean pastor Patrick Mugadza who spoke out on the death of President Robert Mugabe last week.
Pr Patrick called for a press conference only to announce that the 92-year-old head of state would die on 17 October this year. He was later arrested, his lawyer, Gift Mtisi, confirms.
Mtisi told the BBC that he was relaying a “message from God. Police would have to prove that God didn’t say it”.
Mr Mtisi said his client had initially been charged with undermining the authority of the president, then “criminal nuisance” and finally “insulting people of a certain race or religion”.
He said Mr Mugadza was laughing about the charges and would plead not guilty.
“I’m still at pains to find the criminal part of it,” Mr Mtisi told the BBC.
He added the pastor had no regrets about making the prophesy:
“He’s admitting to the facts. He says he didn’t lie – that’s a message from God. Police will have to prove God didn’t say it.”
He was arrested at the magistrate’s court in Harare where he was appearing on separate charges of wearing the national flag.
This was made an offence last year, after another Pastor, Evan Mawarire, launched a campaign urging Zimbabweans to reclaim their flag.
Last September, the president was rumoured to have died after he reportedly cut short his attendance of an AU summit to fly to Dubai for a health check.
Mr Mugabe later joked about the rumours, saying he indeed died but was only resurrected.
