Pastors From Hell

32 children raped, sexually violated by pastors in four years

Just when she thought she finally found a place of safety that would cater to her education and a daily dose of the gospel, the 10-year-old from Opuwo got a rude awakening.

She found herself washing dishes with her pastor (50) kissing her, taking off his pants, and exposing her to his genitals.

“I was in the kitchen washing dishes when he tried to kiss me, and I refused. He then pulled down his pants halfway and took out his private parts . . ,” the girl told the police.

The case of German missionary Flick Ramon sexually abusing minors received wide coverage in 2021 and is still being investigated.

The Namibian has obtained testimony from some of his alleged victims through official police reports.

Combing through years of police reports from around the country, a shocking picture of sexually abusive pastors from several churches emerge, with one case involving a child as young as nine years old.

In some cases, the pastors’ own congregations were not aware of the criminal charges the ‘men of God’ faced.

THE FIGURES

Statistics provided by police inspector general Joseph Shikongo show that nine pastors or prophets have been arrested in connection with rape and sexual assault since 2021, involving more than 30 children. The Khomas region has recorded the most sexual assault incidents since 2021, with five cases.

The Omusati region reported three and the Kavango West region one.

Among the cases involving minors and adolescents since 2021 were four victims aged 9 to 12, and four teenagers between the ages of 17 and 19.

Deputy commissioner Catherine Walaula, the head of the police’s Gender-Based Violence Protection Division, yesterday said rape involves any act of penetration of any body part with genitalia or objects.

She described sexual assault as any unwanted sexual act, such as touching and kissing.

Walaula said exposing a minor to pornography and sexual acts, including discussing sex, amounts to grooming.

‘PAPA RAMON’

Ramon, better known as ‘Papa Ramon’, established Hope Kids, an orphanage in the Kunene region, which was meant to provide free education to children in need.

With a 40% poverty rate in the Kunene region, most children cannot afford education.

Kunene crime investigations coordinator deputy commissioner Paavo Iyambo says Ramon allegedly convinced parents to part with their children by offering them free schooling.

The missionary currently stands accused of sexual exploitation and abusing 11 children between the ages of five and 11, Iyambo says.

“It is alleged that while the girls were at the suspect’s place, he touched their private parts inappropriately and took pictures of some of them while naked,” he says.

Ramon was arrested in 2021 after the involved girls, parents and community members reported him and a case of paedophilia was opened, Iyambo says.

The suspect appeared in court on 29 November 2021 and was granted bail in an amount of N$50 000 in January 2022, with bail conditions requiring him to hand his passport over to the police.

Ramon was arrested again in October 2022 after he allegedly sexually abused eight more girls.

MEN OF THE CLOTH

Ramon’s case is not unique.

In 2019, a 17-year-old girl from the Ohangwena region told the police that pastor Onesmus Angula from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) repeatedly raped her over eight months.

The ‘man of God’ allegedly gave her contraceptives afterwards.

Angula was later arrested by the police.

In the same year pastor Marvin Damaseb (39) of Holy Ghost Fire Ministry was arrested over the alleged kidnapping and rape of a girl (13) from Walvis Bay.

Paulus Panduleni of the Burning Fire Ministry Church at Swakopmund was accused of assaulting, kidnapping and raping congregants in 2019.

He allegedly locked up one of his victims in his room, where she was assaulted for three weeks.

In 2019, a pastor from Okahandja was arrested on charges of incest and rape.

He stands accused of impregnating his daughter.

TELL SOMEONE

One Economy Foundation senior social worker Elizabeth Viall says when an attacker is in a position of power, such as being a pastor, victims often fear no one would believe them.

“It will be a hard road, but telling someone is where the journey to recovery starts,” she says.

The #BeFree campus offers young people aged 13 to 35 free access to a counsellor, a clinical psychologist and a social worker.

MORE CASES

In September 2016, a pastor from Groot Aub settlement was accused of raping a teenage member of his congregation and incest.

Pastor Pedro Moussongela denied the allegations, but was sent to prison for nine years on charges of fraud and forgery.

In 2018, church leader Jacobus Tjaveondja of St John’s Apostolic Faith Mission Church appeared in the Katutura Magistrate’s Court on charges of raping a boy (16).

This year three women aged 24, 19 and 17 said their pastor from Okandi village in the Omusati region raped them while they were cleaning his room.

Elikana David (33) has appeared in the Outapi Magistrate’s Court earlier this year.

Magistrate Hafeni Kashihakumwa postponed his case to 12 June for further police investigations.

David faces three counts of rape, one count of kidnapping, and one of abduction.

POLICE CONCERNED

Iyambo says the cases involving pastors sexually assaulting or raping minors have become problematic.

“We are raising awareness in the region, and are calling all the people in the community, including minors, to report cases. We have informed church and traditional leaders to also raise awareness through the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare,” he says.

National police spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi says crimes against children are of great concern.

“The good of it is that the law does not discriminate, hence all cases that are reported are investigated, irrespective of who committed what crime,” she says.

“These cases are handled in collaboration with social workers of the gender ministry. All victims are referred to the social worker for psychological and emotional assistance.

“Forms of child abuse must be condemned and parents must be involved in their children’s whereabouts. Young girls, especially, should not be left alone when they say they are going to church,” she says.

CHURCHES ALSO WORRIED

The Alliance of Christian Churches in Namibia (ACCN) says abuse within churches are symptoms of deeper societal issues that transcend religious affiliation.

“The church in Namibia does not condone criminal activities,” pastor Dolly Nengushe says.

“While holding individuals and institutions within the religious sector accountable for their actions is important, attributing blame solely to churches overlooks the complex interplay of societal factors,” she says.

“To combat moral decay, Namibia’s justice system must take a leading role in holding wrongdoers accountable,” Nengushe says.

Popular Democratic Movement chief whip Elma Dienda says pastors who commit such crimes must be scrutinised and sentenced for not less than 20 years.

“They must not be allowed to be near a child, and they cannot be allowed to be pastors any more. Unfortunately, there is no law to guide them, and there is no regulation of churches in Namibia.

“Anybody can become a pastor, and in the absence of regulations, it means that person can remain a pastor,” she says.

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– This report was produced by The Namibian’s Investigative Unit. Send your news tips to investigations@namibian. com.na