Police raid cult, arrest 'pastor'

The evening prayer session at the Fountain of Living Waters Ministries at Katutura's Freedom Square was violently interrupted on Sunday when police officers stormed the church building following complaints of cultist activities and that some members are held at the church against their will.

The police had to use quite a bit of force to gain entry to the church as the pastor refused them entry and in the process left him with a cut to his lip.

The pastor, Jacques Sumpi, a Congolese national, was arrested and was sitting in handcuffs when the media arrived at the scene yesterday morning.

He simply nodded when asked about the allegations of cultist activities and lowered his head when Namibian Sun asked him why congregants were fed sand and olive oil.





The pastor and his followers were kept at the church overnight under police guard after the Sunday raid.

Police investigations are now in full swing with the assistance of forensic scientist Dr Paul Ludik, who is part of the investigation team.

The room was scattered with containers of sand and olive oil and plastic water bottles labelled 'judgment'.

The governor of the Khomas Region, Laura McLeod-Katjirua, was at a loss of words as she took in the picture of starved and thirsty churchgoers.

Most of the congregants are reportedly students at Nust or IUM.

“What I am seeing here doesn't look good… it even looks satanic. I hear that they are being served with a mixture of olive oil and sand. Some are weak, unable to talk about their experiences. Maybe they were warned that whatever they hear or do here must stay here,” the governor said.

Rita Hengari, the aunt of one of the congregants, said her niece had been in the church for about four years, joining it shortly after the birth of her three-year-old child.

“She told us the pastor demanded her to remain at the church so that they could 'heal' her after her labour pains. We only get to see her once in a blue moon. We saw her last month but she told us that her phone would be off because she was at church,” said Hengari.

Windhoek mayor Muesee Kazapua said he was shocked to the core to found these kinds of activities in the city. “They say it is a church, but it is clear that there are no normal church activities going on here,” he said.

He added that his interaction with some of the congregants indicated that they were brainwashed and warned not to talk to outsiders.

“I understand that some of them were working but had to quit their jobs because the church demands so. I also wonder why they are afraid to speak up if things are not questionable,” he said.

The congregants were scattered across the church hall, some sitting or lying on thin mattresses, while others were seated on plastic chairs and covered with fleece blankets.

Very few of the congregants were willing to talk about their experience, but the few that did insisted that there was nothing untoward happening during the fellowship and prayer sessions.

One man who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were merely praying when the police stormed the church.

As he tightened his striped blanket around his knees, he whispered that they had finished their church service which lasted from 15:00 until 17:00.

“We were busy with our half night prayers… it was about 22:00… and then the police came with people who said they were looking for their relatives.”

According to Chief Inspector Christina van Dunem Fonsech, the police found two girls locked up in a container in the church.

“The people are here locked up in the church. The pastor told them that if they leave the church they will die,” she said.

She added that Sumpi has many other churches across the country, but it is unclear whether they are registered.

She added that those congregants who looked frail and ill would be taken to hospital whether they wanted to or not. Some have refused medical treatment.

The police investigation is continuing and the police are still monitoring the church building.

JEMIMA BEUKES