EDITORIAL: Where’s govt action on fake churches?

Another day, another headline about a child raped and impregnated by a so-called man of God. This, while our leaders and lawmakers watch on with their hands folded. No action and no legislation to curb the curse of fake, money-driven churches that are popping up on every street corner.

In July alone, more than 4 000 churches have been closed down in Rwanda for failing to comply with regulations, including ones on noise. Minister of local government Jean Claude Musabyimana told the media that this action was in part to ensure the safety of worshippers.

In Namibia, the welfare of worshippers – like the girl from Ombogo village in the Omusati Region who was impregnated by her preacher stepfather – is the least of government’s concerns.

Rwanda has a law to regulate the proliferation of places of worship. The legislation compels all preachers to have theological training before opening a church. Many fake foreign preachers who have found the going tough in their own countries due to regulations have fled to Namibia, where every Joe Sixpack with an Afro hairstyle and pointed shiny shoes can call themselves a pastor - without having to prove their claim. We are the new wild west, where the rule of man reigns supreme.

Here, we have opened the doors for the devil to enter our country and to devour it from within. If we can’t protect Jesus from having his name used in vain to rape children, then we must protect the victims. The devil cannot be allowed to have his cake and eat it too.