NIGERIAN preacher T.B. Joshua is said to have predicted the death of Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika after speaking about an impending death of an African Head of State.

On Sunday 5th February 2012, Joshua stated on his Christian television station, Emmanuel TV the following: “In April… we should pray for one African head of state, president, against a sickness that will likely take life – sudden death. It is a sickness being kept in the body for a long time.” The declaration sparked debate and speculation within many African countries with numerous media outlets reporting on the prophecy.

On Sunday 1st April, T.B. Joshua reiterated the prophecy, saying, “What I’m saying is very close now. Whether you like it or not, pray for your leaders. A head of a nation, I’m seeing sudden death as a result of sickness. Pray. This is Africa, not even West Africa.” In line with the prophet’s remarks. Mutharika died suddenly after a heart attack on Thursday morning, four days after Joshua had said the event was imminent.  

The incident has put the spotlight T.B. Joshua and whether one can really make such a prediction.
 
The following is a snapshot of what T.B. Joshua said in he past.

Zambian president’s death

On Sunday 29th June 2008, Joshua said, “Pray for one of your leaders that will be rushed out of the country… I see the body being rushed out in order to save this soul. I’m seeing a flag. Is it flying down?” On Tuesday 1st July 2008, Former Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa was rushed to a hospital in Paris, France where he died after suffering a stroke.

Ingrid Betancourt’s release

In the same service on Sunday 29th June 2008, he said, “I'm seeing a hero, famous and popular… being saved – suddenly was saved from death. Let us pray on Tuesday and Thursday – let's capture Wednesday…” Three days later on Wednesday 2nd July 2008, the former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt was rescued after 6 years of captivity in the Colombian jungle.
 
Resignation of Pakistan president

On Sunday, 4th May, 2008, T.B. Joshua spoke about someone resigning from office. This was a follow up to the call for prayer he made on March 23, 2008. “I’m looking at the signature; a kind of signature - for somebody to sign and say, Hey, I’m resigning. What is the meaning of that?” On Monday 18th August 2008 Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation as the President of Pakistan.
 
2008 Ghanaian elections

When the Ghanaian presidential elections were to be held in December 2008, T.B. Joshua said on 26th October 2008, “We are praying for the nation Ghana… I see them recounting and re-voting again…a situation where we vote here and they say they must recount it, they must vote it again…” On 3rd January 2009, Professor John Evans Atta Mills was announced the winner after a vote which needed to be held three times before a president could be determined. Atta Mills came to The SCOAN following his inauguration to testify that Joshua had told him specific details of his three-round victory, culminating in his victory in January.

New York plane crash

On Sunday 18th January 2009, Joshua said gave a call to pray on the day of Friday, “Open your lips and pray for a nation ‘NY’. ‘NY’ is part of that country. Pray for God’s protection…” Later in the service, he continued, “February 13 – we should pray for the whole world.” On February 13th 2009, a Continental Airlines plane crashed into a home near Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 passengers on board and one person in the home. It was a Friday.
 
South Korean president’s death

On Sunday 26th April 2009, Joshua said, “On Saturday, somebody is being rushed to the hospital but from that hospital, he could not come back home.” He referred to the individual concerned as someone who “affects the world,” a person that mattered in society. On Saturday 23rd May 2009, former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun was rushed to hospital where he was declared dead after tragically throwing himself off a mountain.
 
Jupiter

On Sunday the 24th May 2009, Prophet T.B. Joshua revealed that he was seeing “something that looks – mystery. People have never seen. In appearance, it’s looking small. But not in your country here, where ordinarily you cannot reach.” On 23rd July 2009 an amateur astronomer in Australia discovered an impact scar on planet Jupiter. It appeared very small on the cameras but in fact was the same diameter as planet Earth. This discovery caused a stir in the global scientific community.
 
Michael Jackson’s death

On Sunday 4th January 2009, Joshua spoke about a great star about to embark on a journey of no return. “I’m seeing a great star. In his own area, he’s famous – he’s known everywhere. Great – too great... I see something will begin to happen to that star which may likely end in him going on the journey of no return.” A month later on Sunday 22nd February 2009, Joshua continued to call for prayer for the individual in question, stating that the star was “too young to leave your midst.” On Thursday 25th June 2009, Michael Jackson, the international music icon and most famous pop star of modern times, died following a cardiac arrest in Los Angeles, California. The world was stunned by his passing at the early age of 50.
 
Berlusconi attack

On Sunday 13th December 2009, T.B. Joshua said, “I see an attempt on one of the presidents of one of the great nations...Pray for protection. I see a narrow escape – very narrow, too narrow. But the whole thing failed.” Merely hours later, on that same evening, an attempt was made on Italian President Silvio Berlusconi’s life when he was assaulted with a metallic object at a campaign rally in Milan. He escaped with minor injuries.
 
Police plane crash

On Sunday 21st March 2010, Joshua talked about an impending air disaster, “I was in a vision and I saw where a balloon was full of people. It just lost control in the air… I’m seeing people that matter, government officials, they were inside the balloon. They are innocent souls…” The following week on Sunday 28th March, he further explained that he saw a flag being brought down with two colours, one of which was white. On Saturday 10th April, 2010, Polish President, Lech Kaczynski, the First Lady, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chairman of The Bank of Poland and many other prominent Polish Government Ministers were killed in a plane crash.

Nigerian elections

On August 1, 2010, Prophet T.B. Joshua said: “I’m hearing the word, extension. It has to do with this country. I’m hearing, extension for accountability.” When the prophecy was given, many scoffed at the notion, stating that constitutionally it was not permissible. Joshua later commented on the issue, “When they see what is going to happen, they would know the constitution would permit.” The much anticipated 2011 Nigerian parliamentary elections were pushed forward not once but three times due to circumstances beyond their control.
 
Ivory Coast president Gbagbo 2010

Joshua is also said to have prophesied about the disgraced former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo, long before the violent election-related crises erupted in November 2010. Joshua declared that Gbagbo should cede power in the upcoming elections with his counterpart Allassane Outtara, saying it was his time to leave office. Gbagbo sent emissaries to The SCOAN to request for prayers upon which Joshua requested his presence to tell him the mind of God. Unwilling to respond to or accept the prophecy, Gbagbo took matters into his own hands and dissolved his cabinet. After a six month of bloodshed, Gbagbo was arrested.

Soccer: Nigeria vs Guinea

Joshua’s revelations have not always been unchangeable as in the case of when he spoke of Nigeria’s qualifier for the African Cup of Nations against Guinea on 8th October 2011. The previous Sunday, 2nd October, he had said that: “God showed me the game between Nigeria and Guinea but what I saw was not favourable” and that “any team that scores first will take the day”. He said however that it was possible to change the outcome if the team played as if everything depended on them and prayed as if everything depended on God. But the match ended 2:2 – with Guinea scoring the first goal and then dramatically equalising in the dying seconds, sending Nigeria out of AFCON 2012 for the first time in 25 years.
 
Soccer: Zambia wins AFCON 2012

Zambia’s smooth journey through AFCON 2012 shocked many, as they had not reached the final stages of the tournament for over 20 years but what was most shocking was when they met Ivory Coast, the ‘big guns’, in the final and emerged victorious as underdogs. Less than one hour before the opening of the match, Joshua said: “Yes, this blessing is for a country you are not expecting; this victory is for a country you are not expecting…God wants to make them happy because of the victims of what happened to them in the past.” Zambia emerged victorious on the same soil where they had tragically lost their entire national team, 19 years earlier in a fatal plane crash.

So, is T.B. Joshua a real prophet? Did he predict Pres Mutharika's death. Opinion is split but one thing is clear: When he says something and events happen as predicted, it’s difficult to make the case that there’s no truth to what was said. At the same time, people can make own conclusions about the the work of T.B. Joshua.
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