Pastor’s sex with congregants was ‘consensual’

The mother of a married pastor who was arrested yesterday at Onepandaulo village in the Omusati Region for alleged rape says her son had consensual sex with his accusers, including a learner who offered sex in return for money to buy meat.

The 34-year-old pastor, who is the founder of a church called Have Mercy Mission Ministries in that village, was arrested in full view of Namibian Sun yesterday, on allegations that he raped three of his congregants - aged 17, 19 and 24. All of them are learners at a local school, with one in grade 10 and the two others in grade 11.

The rapes allegedly happened on 9, 16 and 24 February.

Omusati police regional commander, Commissioner Ismael Basson, confirmed the arrest.

‘She wasn’t screaming’

On Monday, Basson said the pastor had yet to be arrested because he was on the run, but when Namibian Sun visited the village yesterday, the preacher was there. He denied ever fleeing, saying he committed no crime to make him do so.

His mother, Vinia Paulus, led this publication to her son, who was at a church in the next village.

According to her, on 9 February, there was a church get-together event which the local youth attended.

She said the 24-year-old victim also attended the function. Afterwards, she reportedly went to the pastor’s house at 21:00.

“She called him and asked for money to buy meat. They had sex and she left. The next day, her mother came to tell the story that [the woman] was raped,” Paulus said.

“We don’t believe her because she locked herself in the bedroom with [the pastor] to have sex. She was not screaming when the alleged rape was happening, why?”

“I don’t believe those accusations,” Paulus said.

His calling

The 19-year-old learner was allegedly raped when she went to borrow a pen from the pastor. The 17-year-old made the rape accusations against the preacher after the other two women came out with their allegations.

Paulus, meanwhile, staunchly defended her son, saying he has a calling as a prophet who tells people about what is happening in their lives.

“He would prophecise our lives and he would tell the truth,” she said.

The pastor, who briefly spoke to Namibian Sun before being whisked away by the police, also denied the rape allegations.

“I did not run away. I also did not commit the crime,” he said before being climbing into a police van.

‘I slept in his room’

The pastor’s wife, who only identified herself as Naveuye, defended her husband, who she claimed is incapable of committing the heinous crimes he is being accused of.

She further accused the victims of being used by third forces who are jealous of her husband’s church.

“The whole of February I slept in my husband’s room. He was never on the run and he never will be because he is innocent,” Naveuye said.

She added that they have been married for two years.

The church has been in the village for seven years and while it seems to have wormed its way into the hearts of some locals, others despise it.

“They just want to tarnish our name. People love the church. We have a lot of old people who support us,” Naveuye said.

Olivia Angula, one of the congregants, said people should get the right information and not have hatred towards Pentecostal churches.