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SUSPENDED: Reverend Hendrick Shuudeni suspended over sex-work allegations
SUSPENDED: Reverend Hendrick Shuudeni suspended over sex-work allegations

Anal-sex pastor suspended for ‘defying God’s will’

Elcin preacher sent home to allow probe
Hot on the heels of retired Lutheran bishops condemning same-sex marriages, the church has acted against one of its clergymen implicated in a gay sex scandal.
Enzo Amuele
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) pastor and former Swapo Party councillor Reverend Hendrick Shuudeni, who was accused of allegedly having anal sex with a young man in exchange for a job in the Namibian Police, has been suspended.

Gideon Niitenge, the leader of the Elcin western diocese, confirmed the suspension, adding that the allegations against Shuudeni are serious.

“Yes, it is true, he is suspended. A church minister with such allegations against them must be suspended until further notice,” he stressed.

Niitenge told Namibian Sun that the allegations are shocking and that is why, as management, they decided to suspend Shuudeni until everything is sorted out.

“We want this to be the first and last case. Whether it is being done through male and male or female and female, we will not be happy to hear of any more of such incidents,” he said.

He added that these practices are against the will of God.

Innocent or guilty?

According to Niitenge, Shuudeni will remain suspended until an investigation has been completed. If he is found guilty, Elcin "cannot continue with such a person who is doing things that are against the will of God", he said.

If innocent, Shuudeni will continue with his duties.

Last month, 24-year-old Jeremiah Mushinima opened a case against Shuudeni for not delivering on the promise of getting him a job on the police force.

According to Mushinima, Shuudeni – of the Oshilemba Elcin Parish - cajoled him into committing sexual acts by name-dropping police chief Joseph Shikongo, whom he said was a close associate.

In a telephonic interview, Mushinima said he is happy that Shuudeni has been suspended because the allegations against him are true.

Shuudeni’s phone went unanswered when Namibian Sun sought his comment.

Buying his silence

Mushinima said although he is not gay, he agreed to have sex with Shuudeni on two occasions out of desperation for a job.

According to him, the sexual encounters took place in September 2022 in Windhoek and in February 2023 at Onhuno.

Evidence obtained by Namibian Sun showed that the pastor paid his accuser money on various occasions, totalling nearly N$4 000, in a desperate bid to buy the unemployed man’s silence.

“Shuudeni promised to give me a job in the police force in exchange for sex, to which I agreed. But he did not deliver on his promise. He just kept sending me money and stalling on the job he promised,” Mushinima said.

Last month, Mushinima said he had been receiving death threats from the man of the cloth.

“Shuudeni has been threatening me, telling me that I can die as there are prominent people involved. My life is in danger, I am scared for my life. I need protection,” he stressed.

At the time, the Lutheran preacher admitted that he sent his accuser money, but said it was all in good faith as he "assists a lot of vulnerable people in the community".

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-05

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