Ongwediva
Eight traditional authorities in the northern regions are now enforcing strict measures for the establishment of new Pentecostal churches in rural areas where some preachers have been implicated in social mischief.
During a meeting held earlier this month Aawambo traditional authorities that include Ondonga, Oukwanyama, Uukwambi, Ombadja, Ombalantu, Ongandjera, Uukwaluudhi and Uukolonkadhi decided to enforce new measures against Pentecostal churches accused of leading society astray.
This came following the submission by the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority that recently tried five pastors for impregnating six congregants who are learners at Okelemba.
The five pastors are said to be members of Jesus Christ Ministries belonging to Pastor Vilho Paulus, who allegedly impregnated dozens of congregants, including married women. Paulus claims he is Jesus Christ – and has allegedly sired children out of wedlock with followers he calls his angels. Information shared by Joseph Asino of Ondonga Traditional Authority states that apart from impregnating children and other members, traditional leaders also noted that these church pastors are causing confusion in communities, creating hatred among villagers and at times put people’s lives at risk.
Among other concerns, a document from the traditional authorities states that some of the Pentecostal churches instruct people who are on medication for a chronic illness to stop medical treatment.
‘Sinners’ are also ‘cleansed’ of their sins by being injected with some substances in their rectum.
This is purportedly a way of flushing ‘sins’ out of their bodies.
Furthermore, leaders are also concerned about a lack of discipline and respect of elders by the children that have joined the new churches. Children are allegedly told at church that their parents are evil.
Because of some of the unspeakable practices, traditional leaders will now compel those that want to establish churches in villages to provide respective headmen with a letter from the bishop of their respective church, a letter from the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN), a letter from the supervisor of a cluster/dioceses, a letter from the regional council, and from the traditional authority, among others.
“This is a challenge but we can not just sit and watch,” reads the document.
Chief Herman Iipumbu of Uukwambi Traditional Authority, who is the deputy chairperson of the traditional authority council, said his office had to intervene when they discovered activities by a church in Oshikuku that was also causing havoc among the community.
“We instructed them to shut down their place, but I still have to make a follow-up to see if they have finally closed down their church,” said Iipumbu.