Pastor accused of raping congregant

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ONGWEDIVA – A self-proclaimed pastor of an Apostolic church at Olulongo, a village near Ondangwa, appeared in the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court on Monday this week for the alleged rape of a fellow church member.

The accused pastor is a 23-year-old Edward Immanuel in whose church a number of miracles are said to have been performed, including healings and as a result started attracting a seizable following with people from other villages camping at his residence. Members of the congregation were however not convinced that the pastor committed the alleged rape when New Era visited the village yesterday, while the congregation was worshipping. The church members also said they “do not wish to speak to people who are not members of the church, because they might be the same people who got their pastor arrested.”

According to information by the police, the rape is alleged to have taken place last week Friday and began with a call from Immanuel to the victim, a 20-year-old girl who may not be identified for legal reasons. The pastor asked to meet the victim at a designated place in a mahangu field. The victim, who was in Omaalala another village at the time, obliged and found the pastor waiting for her at the agreed spot.

It is then alleged that at that point the pastor asked for a kiss from the victim who refused and reminded the pastor of his duties in society and the sacred vows he made before God and the congregation. That however did not discourage or cool down the ardours of the man of the cloth  who continued his adunwanted advances and boldly told the object of his passions that all people on earth are sinners and always have a chance to confess after an act of sin or when they have done wrong. It was at this point, it is alleged, that the pastor asked the girl to sit down and relax, before he pounced on her and removed her underwear, unzipped his pants and proceeded to ravish her.

It is also alleged that Immanuel, after committing the rape, asked the victim whether she would report the matter to the police, but was met with a stoney silence. He is also accused of being in constant contact with the victim to find out whether she was experiencing pain. He was arrested the following day. He remains in custody after he was denied bail. Police are investigating further. The congregation is however disputing the information, saying the rape case is a plot by certain people intent on on discreting their church and the pastor. To prove their innocence, one of the congregants, showed New Era a church member who they claim was disabled before joining the church, and is now completely healed and able to walk. Villagers who do not belong to the church however have denounced the church and its miraculous powers as a hoax.

By Nuusita Ashipala