OSHAKATI PLACIDO HILUKILWA
Members of the controversial Bethesda Church in the Uupindi location of Oshakati were kept in the dark about the criminal charges levelled against their spiritual leader, Amon Angulu, alias Prophet Alex.
When Namibian Sun visited the congregation yesterday morning, it was business as usual and several congregants expressed disbelief and dismissed the news report about the imprisonment of their spiritual leader as malicious fabrication of the enemy .
That cannot be true. How can a man of God do such things as being alleged? Those are rumours created by the church's enemies, said one loyal member.
However, a certain Pastor Axel who is heading the congregation in the absence of Prophet Alex, admitted the accuracy of the news report yesterday's edition of Namibian Sun. Yes, Prophet Alex was arrested and was granted bail of N$1 000, he said.
He confirmed that some leading members of the church had tried to convince the complainant to withdraw the case, but others rejected such a move as an attempt to interfere with the course of justice.
He did not explain why faithful followers of the self-styled prophet and faith healer were not informed about his arrest.
Prophet Alex was arrested last week after he allegedly kidnapped his wife, taking her to an isolated spot north of Ondangwa before assaulting her.
He claimed to have had a vision from God revealing that his wife was having an affair. In turn his wife allegedly accused him of sleeping with several women 'patients' living on the church premises.
One of the patients died last week. The unnamed elderly woman from the Epembe Constituency in the Ohangwena Region, had allegedly suffered from a chronic cough for nine years.
She was taken to Prophet Alex's church for healing but died before any prayers could be said for her.
Her health passport revealed that she was discharged from the Onandjokwe Lutheran hospital earlier this month, a church member said, adding that, as a rule, the church does not admit those who are critically ill. We refer them to the hospital, she said.
Prophet Alex claims to have supernatural healing powers and an ability to reveal hidden truths.
Ailing people flock to his church expecting supernatural healing. It is also alleged that followers are discouraged from taking medicines prescribed by a doctor.
The controversial pastor is also accused of being the source of community squabbles as he allegedly goes around identifying alleged victims of witchcraft and those who bewitched them.
This man has created disharmony in our community as neighbours and members of the same family are no longer on speaking terms. Every ailment is said to have been caused by a witch who is then identified publicly. The situation is now totally out of control, said a former member of the church.
