RUNDU – A self proclaimed pastor, who allegedly prescribed a concoction that killed three people in Kavango West, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon.
It is suspected that the preacher performed a sort of an enema to inject the concoction in the rectums of the victims.
The 25-year-old pastor, who is the main suspect runs a church called the ‘Prophet of Victory Church’. Police found him at Karukuvisa village, approximately 150km south of Rundu in the Kavango East region, where he was treating people for various ailments in villages.
Along with an assistant, the pastor, who allegedly also acts as a healer of sorts is expected to appear in the Kahenge Magistrate’s Court in Nkurenkuru today. The three deceased and one person who is hospitalised are said to have been in need of healing at the pastor’s church on Tuesday at Mutengo village just outside Nkurenkuru on the way to Mpungu. The concoction was allegedly mixed and prepared by the church helper on telephone instructions of the pastor.
“Twenty people are still camping there waiting for the pastor after the others died. This guy is maybe a combination of a pastor and witchdoctor. It is a pity that people are relying on fake pastors than going to a recognised health facility for medical attention,” said Kavango West police commander, Josephat Abel.
Abel warned the public should be careful of fake pastors and must have faith in health facilities. “The deceased, who are related, allegedly paid about N$4 600 as an upfront payment and they were going to pay more if they get better. You can’t pay that much at a health centre,” he said. The police commissioner also said the community should take this as a lesson and go to church for prayers and not for traditional concoctions. “They must learn from this and avoid putting their lives in the hands of these kinds of people,” he noted. The church helper, who prepared the concoction and assist the so-called pastor at the church, where many flock to for healing, was already arrested.
He allegedly went into hiding after the “patients” got sick before the police smoke him out.
- jmuyamba@nepc.com.na