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Police officially state they are unaware of any investigation against church leader Batsirai Java.
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Alleged charges: Despite police denial, reports claimed Java faced multiple charges including treason, publishing falsehoods prejudicial to the state, bigotry, and undermining the authority of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
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The viral audio: A recording surfaced about two months ago featuring unidentified people making claims about Zimbabwe’s political landscape. One speaker alleged that businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei boasted to Passion Java (Batsirai’s brother) that he would be Zimbabwe’s next leader.
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Java’s response: Batsirai Java has publicly distanced himself from the recording, denying any involvement.
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Alleged police actions: Sources report that police have conducted multiple raids at Java’s Tabernacle of Grace Church and his home. His secretary and an aide were also reportedly picked up for questioning.
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Reported docket: An online publication claimed that the police Law and Order section opened a docket against Java containing four charges, with chief superintendent Runganga named as the lead investigator.
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Role of Uebert Angel:
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Angel was accused of orchestrating a smear campaign to extort US$50,000 from Java, involving paying women to make false sexual abuse claims and threatening to release recordings.
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In 2024, police investigated Angel over allegations that he hired South African hitmen to kill Java, following a report from Java’s security aide.
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Angel served as President Mnangagwa’s special envoy to the Americas and Europe.
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There is a long-running feud between Angel and Java, with Angel reportedly expressing hatred toward Java and claiming he was protecting him because Java was not a Zanu PF member.
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Passion Java has publicly acknowledged both he and Emmanuel Makandiwa as “spiritual sons” of Uebert Angel.
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Role of Emmanuel Makandiwa:
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Makandiwa’s name was mentioned in the viral audio alongside Angel as part of the broader church rivalry context.
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Police sources indicated that the case was being driven by church competition, with Makandiwa identified among prominent religious figures whose names appeared in connection with the recording.
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Makandiwa, alongside Angel and Passion Java, has been grouped by analysts as a megachurch leader whose close ties with Zanu PF have contributed to political instability and manipulation in Zimbabwe.
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Additional context: The investigation itself was allegedly being pushed at the behest of a prominent religious figure who reportedly raised a US$30,000 fund specifically to target Java. The other church leaders mentioned in the viral recording were Uebert Angel and Emmanuel Makandiwa.
