Police in Mansa, Luapula Province have arrested a bishop for raping and defiling his church members.
In this matter, Bishop John Mwelwa, 37, of Healing Cross Ministries Church is charged with Rape Contrary to Section 132 of the Penal Code Act Chapter 87 and Defilement Contrary to Section 138 Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that the rape victim had persistent abdominal pains and her parents took her to Bishop Mwelwa who prophesied that she had cotton in her abdomen.
On 18th September this year, the victim was taken to the Bishop for prayers who then demanded that the victim should go alone with him so that he can go and remove the purported cotton.
However, the bishop drove the victim to a named lodge where the bishop allegedly had carnal knowledge with her as a way of removing the cotton from the abdomen.
Bishop Mwelwa is also accused of defiling a 15-year-old juvenile who had a condition of milk coming out of her breast.
It is alleged that the Bishop took the juvenile to a lodge where he applied anointing oil on the minor’s private parts and breast whilst purportedly removing the cotton.
He informed the victim that the cotton was still remaining and asked her if she could go, and have it removed within fifteen minutes by way of having carnal knowledge with her boyfriend if she had one.
The victim responded that she did not have a boyfriend and that is how he defiled the juvenile purporting that he was removing the remaining cotton.
The suspect is detained in police custody and will appear in court soon.
By Rhodah Mvula