‘Pastor shagged me for fake job’

A Lutheran pastor and former Swapo councillor at the Ruacana town council, Reverend Hendrick Shuudeni, has been accused of deceiving a young man whom he allegedly promised a job within the Namibian Police force in exchange for sex.

His 24-year-old unemployed accuser said although he is not gay, he agreed to have sex with Shuudeni on two occasions out of desperation for a job.

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

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

“Okwati okwafika po puShikongo [he said he’s close to Shikongo],” the accuser narrated.

The man, from Onhuno in the Ohangwena Region, said he first met Shuudeni in Windhoek in 2022.

“I left my village to go look for a better life in Windhoek, where I used to sleep at the Wanaheda Police Station,” he said.

In the capital, he met an individual who introduced him to Shuudeni.

“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,” he said.

Death threats

According to the accuser, he had two sexual encounters with Shuudeni on separate occasions - the first being in September 2022 in Windhoek and the second in February 2023 at Onhuno.

“The second time he came to look for me at Onhuno and told me that they are ready to give me a job. That’s how I agreed to have sex with him for the second time,” he said.

The man, who has since opened a case against Shuudeni, asked to remain anonymous because he has allegedly 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.

All in good faith

Shuudeni, a former chairperson of the Ruacana town council management committee, denied the allegations. This despite text messages from his number to the accuser, seen by Namibian Sun.

“Me loves you a lot son, please...” one of the messages reads.

Namibian Sun contacted the pastor yesterday on the number from which the messages were sent.

“I do not know about something like this. I cannot promise anyone a job, I also do not work,” he said.

The Lutheran preacher admitted to knowing his accuser and sending him money, but said this was all in good faith and in exchange for nothing.

“Yes, I have sent him money just assist to him. I assist a lot of vulnerable people in the community," Shuudeni said.

“I am shocked, because it is a young man and I am also a man. I cannot say anything, I am not sleeping with men,” he said.

When asked about the messages he sent to the accuser, Shuudeni refused to comment.

On the accuser’s phone, the pastor’s number is saved as ‘Hell’.

Case opened

Ohangwena police detective, chief inspector Victor Haludilu, confirmed that a case has been opened against Shuudeni.

“I can confirm that a case was opened and we are investigating. At this stage, it is a little bit sensitive,” he said.

The accuser laid a charge of assault through threatening, but according to the police, other charges could be added depending on further information.

In a separate matter, the accuser has also opened a case against a Swapo politburo member, who allegedly grabbed him by his genitals at Endola in the Ohangwena Region.

The former Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) member allegedly reached out to his accuser via Facebook. The incident reportedly took place in March.