A controversial Zimbabwean pastor, Paul Sanyangore made his congregants drink sewage water on Saturday while clearing his church ground.

According to reports, people who were clearing the land were thirsty and requested Sanyangore to buy water for them.

It is said they could not get the water at nearby tuck-shops before the preacher went and fetched water at a nearby stream, believed to be contaminated by sewage before applying salt to it.

He reportedly prayed for the water and asked the congregants to drink but no one was forthcoming as they had seen where the water had come from.

This resulted in him drinking it first and they followed.

“People were clearing the ground at the stand and were thirsty. They could not get water at some tuck shops nearby. The prophet then went to a nearby stream and fetched the water. He applied salt to it before praying over it and told the people to drink it. People were sceptical and he took the initiative to drink it first and they all followed suit,” said a source.

Speaking to H-Metro, the preacher said it was just a display of faith that everything is possible through the power of the Lord.

“It was just a demonstration of faith. We were far away from where we could get water and I just had to sprinkle salt and pray for the water.

The people knew the water was dirty and when I said drink it, no one was forthcoming and I had to drink it first to show them nothing would happen. Thereafter they had to drink it. What was just a drinks break turned to be a healing session,” he said.The preacher gave some Bible verses to justify.

“I know people will say what they want but this is not new. Elisha did that for people to consume water that was deemed bad for human consumption,” he said.