By TONY ZAKARIA, 20th March 2011 @ 14:00, Total Comments: 6, Hits: 4889
I wrote some two weeks back that the events in Gongo la Mboto will soon be forgotten and something else will occupy people’s minds. Sure enough, something bigger happened to capture the media’s collective imagination. All roads and networks now lead to Loliondo.
A relatively unknown retired preacher is working wonders there, treating AIDS, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other diseases by administering a single cup of herbal medicine. Those who have taken the proverbial cup testify to its effectiveness. Those who drink this cup from the hands of Mwasapile and his helpers proclaim their faith until others come.
Apparently, his first AIDS patient named Ms Willa John Lengume became HIV-free not too long after drinking the medicine. Dr Mbosha, a doctor at the nearby Wasso hospital confirmed Ms Willa had been diagnosed with HIV at Digodigo health centre some time back but is now cured. Ms Wisso lost her husband John in 2002 from AIDS-related complications. She was tested after AIDS-related complications. She was tested after the death of husband and it was then she knew she was HIV +ve.
There has been a lot of scepticism about the AIDS cure. Ms Willo had been receiving regular ARV treatment from her condition. After treatment at the reverend’s place, her condition improved rapidly, her T4 cell count went through the roof to levels that made her ineligible for ARV drugs, and when she was tested for HIV and found to be negative, the clinic still kept her on ARVs, unable perhaps to believe the lab results.
A full bishop of the Lutheran church and several prominent leaders in Tanzania have confirmed taking the cup of Mwasapile concoction and being relieved of whatever they previously suffered from. Testimony from such eminent persons must have been the trigger that led to the mass Exodus of the sick and desperate to the new promised land of cures called Loliondo.
Loliondo is just a short distance away from the original Garden of Eden located in Tanzania called Ngorongoro Crater. Olduvai Gorge where humankind first walked on planet Earth is also a short distance from Loliondo. Is it a coincidence that people of different nationalities are flocking to this area to seek cures from a myriad of illnesses affecting them?
But hold on. People of different religious flocks are flocking to this treatment healing centre without regard to their religious affiliation or nationality. Mzungu, Arab, Tanzanian and even Kenyan nationals have been sighted heading to Loliondo at great expense.
The unassuming ex-preacher has promised to work Sundays and public holidays, ministering to the needs of all who seek his services. A temporary ban that been hinted by authorities was quickly deflected by a diplomatic and media savvy ex-regional commissioner turned minister, and in so doing, avoided turning the exodus into a desperate stampede for the last cup.
They say a prophet is never appreciated at home. We would therefore expect a few people from Manyara and Loliondo in particular not to put much credence on the doings of the good man of God. However, a sceptic general public from Dar to Musoma and Mtwara, fuelled by an equally questioning media seemed to have decided the whole thing was a publicity plot. They reckoned here was no scientific basis for anyone being cured. Some people keep saying this even now.
The government even sent a health team led by Tanzania food and drugs authority. What science will the team use to test matters of faith? Surely it is not just the medicine whose colour resembles black tea that is causing the healing of thousands?
Maasai herbal remedies are not big secrets. Whichever tree the healer and his assistants have been digging for roots or bark must be widely known by now. If it is just a lone tree that is causing the healing from cancer, AIDS, diabetes and other diseases, then that must be the tree of wisdom from the Garden of Eden.
A woman who could hardly swallow any food unless it was pureed and filtered for particles can now eat normally. She was administered with that single cup of the miracle medicine from Mzee Ambilikile Mwasapile. That cup has been taken by many men and women of substance. They just do not want to publicly acknowledge going for the potent cup.
In any other country, there would be massive efforts to show to the rest of the world how miracle cures are taking place on their soil. Tents would have been donated and set up to make the sick comfortable. Sanitation and other amenities would have been put in place long ago, instead of wasting time debating on whether the cures were for real.
TV and radio would have recorded 24/7 how lumpen proletariats, kings and king-makers were going on bended and straight knees to receive their blessing cups and how within days they went back to full body functionality at negligible cost of 500/- or 33 US cents.
Where is the investigative media to showcase medical miracles with documentary proof of illness and anecdotal proof of cures? If a big shot claims he was cured of diabetes, he must have been diagnosed at a reputable health facility and most likely was already undergoing diabetes treatment with injections or anti-diabetes tablets. Same thing with cancer or heart disease.
If there is a medical mystery, only rookie journos would miss. Seasoned journalists would easily unravel it in a few systematic steps. Here is an opportunity to promote Tanzania positively. What are we doing with it? We are shooting down the credibility of the whole healing process as if we are foreign journos playing doubting Thomases.
The good preacher has stated categorically that he does not discriminate people on race or religion. He is giving the cup to anyone who shows up in faith to be healed. It is time we told the human stories of Loliondo. Let us support the preacher and his flock to do God’s work.
tnaleo@hotmail.com; cell 0713-246-136
Total Comments on the above stories (6)
Comment
Realy I am impressed by the news from loliondo ,but I would like to know how does the medical experts talk about this , because to my knowledge there exists various clases HIV1,HIV2............. do they undergone those tests to see if there is no any changes of state from the above mentioned clases?
Comment
i hope there must be a certain level of truth. it is better for the government to make immediate decisions and actions on assisting our magical man!
Comment
Would some sections of the public and the media have responded negatively to a cure in a village if the person responsible had been a Mzungu? Does it have to be a young preacher who discovers such a wonder for Tanzanians who are starved of quality medical care?
Sick people go in their hundreds to religious crusades and regular prayer services in cities in search of cures everyday. They make contributions called 'planting seed' worth millions of shillings. Many never find the cures they are searchi
This village preacher is charging the price of a coke for a service that seems to have helped a few thousands get back to normal life. He keeps 100/- and gives the rest away.
He is not going to be popular with many tele-evangelists or even local preachers in search of fame and fortune. Even drug companies will not want a mwanakijiji to discover a cure for diabetes and high blood pressure. They will eventually discover a way to sabbotage and discredit Mzee Mwasapile.
God help him.
Comment
I have personally not been there but i do not doubt it either. It's not the cup nor the water therein that heals but the Unwavering faith in the healing power of Jesus Christ. The priest has always made it clear that he is not the one that is healing people gut the power of God. What has really appealed to me is the simple lifestyle of the priest. Imagine how a contemporary preacher would be with all this media attention. Thank you pastor for the great service. May God continually bless you and may thousands know God and his healing power through your work.
Comment
How many Kenyans, Ugandans, South Africans etc are flocking to Semunge village? We are told there is a 50 km line of about 4,000vehicles carrying 24,000 men, women and children there on Monday 28 March. Not to mention helicopters. it is easy to spot Kenyan or other non- Tanzanian registration numbers.
The ministry of Health Tanzania says the medicine is safe, but not able yet to ascertain if it works. Kenyan health minister publicly condemned the retired pastor as a fake who shiold be taken to task. Who is telling the truth here?
Comment
I dnt knw what to say..im shocked but also impressed...truly it comes down to one's faith and im happy for those who got cured.
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