Ondonga TA will not permit revival churches to proliferate uncontrollably

The Omukwaniilwa of the Ondonga Traditional Authority, Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo, says the traditional authority will not allow the unregulated mushrooming of revival churches in areas under its jurisdiction.

Shuumbwa made these remarks during an annual stakeholder engagement meeting at Onambango Palace.

Omukwaniilwa Shuumbwa alleges some revival churches are becoming a concern as they are destroying families and openly accusing people of witchcraft without providing any evidence to back up such claims.

This, in turn, he explained, leads to division and hatred within families, neighbours, and society, in contrast to biblical teachings.

“This year, we must unite and free our people from the spider web in which they are entangled. Losing their property, and their money, and even being told to burn their properties. Imagine you have raised your child since childhood, and once they go to church, they tell you that the church says you are bewitching them with no evidence. These churches make a living by creating misery.”

He added that the traditional authority passed a law within its area of jurisdiction, which will make it tough for Pentecostal churches to set up bases within the Ondonga traditional authority.

“We have come up with a law within the traditional authority that if anyone wants to come and set up a Pentecostal church here, they should present endorsement letters from the regional governor, councillors, the Council of Churches in Namibia, and from residents of the village they want to set up the church. The old churches are exempted from this. So no one will build a new Pentecostal church here; we will break it down.”

Oshana police regional commander Naftal Sakaria added that the mushrooming of churches is a huge concern.

“This is becoming a real concern because people just set up tents or temporary structures and start churches. They then start creating propaganda, which causes chaos in the community. Pastors must be more sensitive, especially when they make unfounded allegations. We have two cases before us as we speak.”