A family spokesman said the cleric, whose church is said to have over a million members, died from a heart ailment at his home in Chitungwiza on Sunday night.

"He has not been well since he came out of prison, but we never thought it would reach this stage," Madzibaba Simbisoni Mhike said.

"Things began to fall apart in the past two weeks as he was having difficulties in breathing. We visited a lot of doctors in the country, but with no solution. We were about to take him out of the country when he met his fate."

He will be buried at Chitungwiza Cemetery on Tuesday.

The Zanu PF-supporting spiritual leader was released from prison on health grounds earlier this year after serving seven years of a 20-year jail term.

He was convicted in 2003 of sexually assaulting two women at his shrine. The original 42-year sentence imposed by a magistrate was later reduced to 20 years by a High Court judge.

His early release from prison was criticised by opposition parties and feminists who claimed it was a political move by President Robert Mugabe to unleash him to campaign for his party.

Nzira, who once said Mugabe must rule for life, was a revered figure in his church. He was idolised as a demi-god by his loyal followers.

He is survived by four wives and seven children.

There are three sects of the Apostolic Church in Zimbabwe, said to command a five-million following between them. The largest is the African Apostolic Church said to have 2,5 million members, followed by the Johanne Marange with 1,5 million and then Nzira's Johane Masowe (Chishanu) with around a million followers.

Loyal following ... Supporters of Madzibaba Godfrey Nzira

Politics ... A painting of Godfrey Nzira and President Mugabe at the entrance of Nzira's shrine