By Tariro Gono
Pastors in Mutare are raising red flags over a suspicious housing scheme allegedly orchestrated by Rev. Obadiah Musindo, who stands accused of collecting payments for non-existent residential stands.
This isn’t the first time Rev. Musindo has been embroiled in controversy; years ago, he left Destiny of Africa Network under a cloud of allegations, having reportedly defrauded hundreds of home seekers in Mutare. Now, he’s back, and pastors fear history is repeating itself.
Several pastors, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Rev. Musindo, with the backing of Pastor Itai Chibanda, has been recruiting clergy from various denominations to join the scheme. “We’ve been invited to join this housing initiative, but the terms are murky. They’re asking for small payments upfront, promising to show us the stands later,” one pastor shared. “We lost money to him before, and it seems he’s trying to pull the same trick again.”
Another pastor echoed these concerns, urging Rev. Musindo to work transparently with others to avoid further mistrust. “We’ve moved on from his past actions, and Destiny of Africa Network has been working hard to rectify the damage. We don’t want to see anyone scammed again,” he said.
A WhatsApp message from Pastor Chibanda, seen by this publication, invited pastors to a meeting at Skyview Hotel to discuss the housing scheme. The message promised “special arrangements for housing and other projects” for pastors, emphasizing that “every pastor deserves a place to stay.”
Investigations revealed that Rev. Musindo has set up a new office near the original Destiny Africa Network Housing Trust premises in Mutare’s CBD, where he is allegedly collecting payments from unsuspecting individuals. Destiny Africa Network Housing Trust chairperson Wilson Masokovere condemned the move, calling it illegal and unauthorized. “He’s running parallel offices and misleading people. There’s no available land in Mutare, so his claims are baseless,” Masokovere stated.
Despite repeated attempts, Rev. Musindo and Pastor Chibanda could not be reached for comment. As the allegations mount, Mutare’s pastors are urging caution, warning others to steer clear of what they fear could be another costly scam.