Pastor pays for his sins

A self-proclaimed pastor who impregnated a schoolgirl at Okelemba in the Ohangwena Region was ordered to pay compensation of six cows or N$9 000 within 30 days, while the community voted that his church be dismantled within seven days.
The 24-year-old pastor Gideon Shinehungi, his brother Elia as well as another pastor, Lapindja Nghole, who now represents the Jesus Christ Ministry (JCM), appeared before the Onandova traditional court on Saturday.
The three appeared on different charges ranging from impregnating schoolgirls to operating an unregistered church without authorisation. Both brothers admitted that they had impregnated a girl from the community.
“I accept that I sinned in front of God and everyone,” Shinehungi told the court on Saturday. His brother Elia was ordered to pay two cows to the family of the girl and N$500 for the sitting of the meeting within 30 days.
At least five girls under the age of 20 have allegedly been impregnated by members of the church, including self-proclaimed pastors, since 2012.
Another pastor Iiyambo Festus, who is regarded as one of the church leaders, couldn’t appear before the traditional court on Saturday, but will appear on 13 August along with two other church members who are also accused of impregnating young girls from a local school.
Onandova District Senior Headman Elias Uaandja yesterday said Festus should report to his office as the police were trying to trace him. Members of the community on Saturday spoke against the church, saying it had destroyed families and it was not needed in their village.
“Now as we are speaking there are families who don’t communicate because of this church. Our children are made to believe that there are demons in the house and claim their parents are bewitching them as a result these kids insult us and don’t want to eat our food,” a parent testified.
The accused pastors also failed to prove that the church was registered with the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN).
“Where are your papers from the headman or from the Council of Churches in Namibia? We want proof or you leave,” an irate community member said.
Festus Hangula, who represented the headman of Okelemba, said on 2 July, a community meeting was held where 87 people voted against the establishment of the church at the village and it was on this basis the matter was taken to Uaandja’s office.
He said the church was first operating close to the Okelemba Combined School, but was closed down after parents complained about it. It has now emerged that the church is operating from Nghole’s property. Hangula said the performance of the learners at school had dropped significantly ever since the church came to their community.
“Children will come with their church clothes to school and after classes they would change from their uniforms to casual clothes and go to their church and return at night and therefore we believe they must leave,” Hangula charged.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Nampol’s Inspector Christina Fonsech applauded the decision taken by the Onandova traditional court, saying that churches are not supposed to divide households but to unite people in the community.


The church


The JCM church is headed by the infamous Vilho Paulus, who calls himself ‘Jesus Christ’ and is based in Windhoek. The church operating in Okelemba is one of its branches.
Recently Paulus’s church in Katutura was closed down by the police after it emerged that he had impregnated at least five women under the pretext that it was the will of God. The church has also been accused of noise pollution and of misleading community members and tearing apart families.


KENYA KAMBOWE