Two pastors in court for witchcraft accusations
A pastor is among four people who were granted bail of N$500 each by the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on Thursday while another pastor is on the run from the police in the Oshikoto Region.
The five people were charged with defamation of character, alternatively contravening the Witchcraft Suppression Proclamation 27 of 1933.
The accused persons are Pastor Benjamin Ndjebela (39), Veronika Dula (53), Emilia Kawaya (32) and Delemina Haulamba (17). The name of the runaway pastor is not known.
The four were arrested on 15 January 2022 at Onamishu village in the Omuthiya area. They appeared before the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court on 17 March.
Pastors of charismatic churches regularly inform their congregants that their family members, friends, relatives or neighbours are bewitching them whenever they experience problems.
This has been heavily criticised by police Chief Inspector Christina van Dunem Dafonsech, who closed some of these churches last month and issued serious warnings to their leaders and congregations.
The Oshikoto regional police commander, Commissioner Armas Shivute, said the complainant was allegedly called a witch.
"The suspects allegedly continue tainting the complainant's name that she is 'witching' them and she is in possession of a snake," said Shivute.
He said the accusations started when one of the pastors was sick and taken to the local revival churches.
He reportedly told some people that the complainant had bewitched him and they, in turn, spread the word.
The case has been postponed until 30 August 2022 for further investigation and to allow the police time to arrest the suspect on the run.
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The five people were charged with defamation of character, alternatively contravening the Witchcraft Suppression Proclamation 27 of 1933.
The accused persons are Pastor Benjamin Ndjebela (39), Veronika Dula (53), Emilia Kawaya (32) and Delemina Haulamba (17). The name of the runaway pastor is not known.
The four were arrested on 15 January 2022 at Onamishu village in the Omuthiya area. They appeared before the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court on 17 March.
Pastors of charismatic churches regularly inform their congregants that their family members, friends, relatives or neighbours are bewitching them whenever they experience problems.
This has been heavily criticised by police Chief Inspector Christina van Dunem Dafonsech, who closed some of these churches last month and issued serious warnings to their leaders and congregations.
The Oshikoto regional police commander, Commissioner Armas Shivute, said the complainant was allegedly called a witch.
"The suspects allegedly continue tainting the complainant's name that she is 'witching' them and she is in possession of a snake," said Shivute.
He said the accusations started when one of the pastors was sick and taken to the local revival churches.
He reportedly told some people that the complainant had bewitched him and they, in turn, spread the word.
The case has been postponed until 30 August 2022 for further investigation and to allow the police time to arrest the suspect on the run.
[email protected]
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