‘Resurrection’ man dies of pneumonia

Moyo tried to find peace in Zimbabwe

Brighton “Elliot” Moyo – on the run after being exposed as the lead character in a “resurrection” drama involving a self-proclaimed prophet – succumbed to pneumonia after fleeing to Zimbabwe. Sowetan sister publication, TimesLIVE, retraced his journey home after the scandal to a remote Zimbabwean village in Lupane, Matabeleland North. The closest urban centre is Bulawayo, more than 150km south. There, Moyo was known as Thabiso Mlanje. He took the name Brighton Moyo when he got to SA. Unbeknown to his grandmother and everyone back home, he became infamous for taking part in a “resurrection” ceremony performed by Congolese preacher Alph Lukau of Alleluia Ministries.

“He went to South Africa in 2011 to look for a job. He married a girl from a nearby village. When they had children, they sent them back home and we never knew what he was up to... [except] what we are being told now,” said Emily Moyo, his grandmother.

The revelation came after Moyo succumbed to pneumonia at the local referral hospital, St Lukes. His relatives had known for some time that he was not in good health.

His brother Stanley Mlanje, who also works in SA, said Moyo did not get proper healthcare in SA because he had been on the run from the police since the resurrection scandal.

That’s why he agreed with his wife to go home to find some peace.

“He always ran away from hospital when he heard there were police around. It was in connection with the ‘miracles’. “We decided not to ask him about it because we wanted him to fully recover. I guess the truth has gone with him,” said Stanley. Moyo is survived by his wife Simelweyinkosi and two children, aged six and four.

His wife distanced herself from the resurrection fiasco.

“What he did during his spare time is not my business. I am not in a position to talk about that issue because I am in the dark,” she said.