TB Joshua draws Namibian fire

Well-known Nigerian pastor, Haruna Goroh, who runs a church in Namibia, has questioned the authenticity of prophet and faith healer TB Joshua, by saying that churches in the West African country “do not recognise him as a true man of God”. Joshua is embroiled in huge controversy following the death of over 100 people in the collapse of a church guesthouse in Nigeria recently. Goroh, from Greater Love Ministries - popularly known as Jesus Centre - questioned why Joshua is planning to visit South Africa following the disaster in which 86 South Africans were among the dead. “The general church in Nigeria does not recognise (Joshua) as a true man of God. It is not a case of jealousy but fact. TB coming to South Africa is another secret scheme to make people forget the tragic death of innocent South Africans, who in search for answers to their problems were visited by the termination of their lives. If they had remained in South Africa with their problems, they would still be alive today,” Goroh said. International media reported that a total of 115 lives were lost and a dozen trapped in the debris when the guesthouse collapsed on September 12, while more floors were being constructed on it. Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan visited the disaster area and promised to investigate the cause of the tragedy, while adding that he had expressed his sympathies to South African President Jacob Zuma. Joshua has vowed to travel once a month to South Africa to hold services in memory of those who died in the collapse. However, Goroh was sceptical over Joshua’s gesture, calling it a “scheme”. “The idea of Joshua offering to visit South Africa once a month is another scheme to get more South Africans initiated into his questionable practices,” Goroh said. “Why should South Africans leave their own pastors and go after a man whose true source of power is questionable?” Goroh also said Joshua’s visit’s to South Africa may “result in more loss of lives in the future”. “Remember the stampede in Ghana last year where lives were lost during his meeting.” According to Goroh, people were promised miracles will happen to them if they use Joshua’s holy water at the meeting in Ghana. “People were scrambling for the holy water and ended their lives.” He continued to say South Africans themselves have made themselves a prey to Joshua. Pastor JP Da Cruz of the Hakahana Community Centre said the envisaged trips to South Africa appear to be Joshua’s attempt to salvage his reputation. “It is difficult to heal the wounds of the people whose family and friends lost their lives. There is the issue of trust, which is a problem as well, and it is not only about restoring his reputation,” Da Cruz explained. “He will come and try to comfort these people, but only God can heal these wounds. It depends on the South African government to allow him entry or not.” Da Cruz said the relatives of the victim’s can decide what sort of intervention and compensation they would want from Joshua and his Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan). The leader of the Christian Democratic Voice (CDV) party in Namibia, Gotthard Kandume, said preaching to the families of the victims will not bring back their loved ones. “Some people have lost breadwinners, while some young kids lost their parents. Preaching to them will not take care of their needs. According to a study, Joshua is one of the richest pastors in Nigeria,” Kandume said. “Will he take care of the children who lost their parents or help the families which lost their breadwinners? It all depends on what he is willing to do these people.” Kandume added his party will have observe a moment of silence for those who died in the collapse at every CDV meeting. Goroh said Joshua’s visits to South Africa are a way of refusing to take responsibility “for his gross negligence”. “He [Joshua] said there was a mysterious aircraft that was circling around the building before the collapse. Doesn’t the Nigerian aviation know which aircraft flies at what time?” “Is he saying that the aircraft was a spiritual aircraft? He and his people may be trying to cover up something we may not know by spiritualising the matter.” He added that while he agrees that accidents can happen anywhere, including places of worship, the Joshua incident one was a clear case of risking people's lives for the sake of money. He urged Zuma’s government to ensure that the matter is thoroughly investigated as “everything looks suspicious”. “What will his visits (to South Africa) add to the spiritual, social or economic growth of the nation? All it will do is to make many stay away from work during his visits.” Goroh believes that Joshua’s “behind the scene schemers and advisers” may have told him what to do that to maintain his South African followership. “He knows that if South Africans and people from other SADC countries stop visiting the synagogue his business empire will collapse, so he will instead go where they are to keep the water and oil business alive.” He also urged other African nations to learn from what happened, as the aim is to give people life and not to kill them through collapsed buildings “that were put up illegally”. WINDHOEK ELVIS MURARANGANDA