ONGWEDIVA – Christian Democratic Voice Party (CDVP) leader Gotthardt Kandume has condemned the founding father’s speech in which he called on traditional leaders to bar Pentecostal churches from the Omusati Region.
Kandume said it is not the churches that are problematic, but the pastors who head churches.
The CDVP leader in a telephonic interview with New Era was responding to an article published in the paper, in which the founding father of the nation Dr Sam Nujoma spoke out against the “bad influence” on youth by some Pentecostal churches, which are allegedly driving youth to commit heinous crimes.
“The only problem is with the foreign pastors – during the day they are pastors, at night they are witch doctors,” Nujoma had told the rally.
Kandume said that Namibia is a Christian state which the same Swapo government appears not to recognise.
“We are calling on the founding father to withdraw his statement because Article 21 of the Namibian Constitution states that Namibians have the right to join or form any political party and even to exercise their religion in the country without intimidation,” said Kandume.
He said foreign pastors are using Namibians as cash cows because they are charging them a lot of money for allegedly performing miracles before disappearing into the night.
“We want these pastors to be screened through the Ministry of Home Affairs because we don’t know what criminal records they have in their countries. What if they are criminals?” charged Kandume.
Kandume further requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure all foreign pastors in the country are given work permits before practising in the country.
Last week the Namibian Police arrested eight traditional healers and pastors.
The arrests were made during an operation in Windhoek to alert the community of fake pastors preying on the destitute with promises of instant riches.
Kandume also used the opportunity to inform the public that once his political party wins the upcoming presidential and National Assembly elections it would ensure that at least 95 percent of the population remain Christians.
CDVP was founded in 2012.