A street pastor was on Tuesday humiliated in Mufakose area of Zimbabwe over allegations of impregnating one of his followers before dumping her.
Pastor Ignatius Neshava, who preaches at the open space between Leopold Takawira and Speke, went to Lisa Rwizi’s place of residence after he was trapped by her relatives who lured him to come, disguising to be his followers who needed prayers for a sick relative.
“I have never been involved in a sexual relationship with Lisa. I only know her as a follower. She was in a relationship with one guy called Sithole, who is also a member of my church.
“She has never been at my house and how old is the child she is claiming that I’m the father? Why did she wait to give birth before confronting me about the pregnancy? If I was responsible, I’m sure she knew where to find me.”
Lisa, however, gave overwhelming evidence of her claims when she told him where his birth mark was adding that he had some wounds on his thigh and one of his legs that she used to nurse before the ‘pastor’s wife’ also concurred that he indeed had scars on the mentioned areas.
“I know this man, I slept with him and we lived as husband and wife for three months after he lured me from the streets where he was preaching, promising to get me a job as a maid.
The ‘pastor’s wife’ wept uncontrollably as all this evidence emerged during the interrogation..
Lisa further narrated how she was told by Ignatius that he lived with his wife in Hatcliffe promising to offer her accommodation until she got a job.
But upon arriving at his residence, Lisa realised that the pastor did not live with a wife and he only occupied a room at his lodgings.
“I had just lost my job as a maid in Chitungwiza and as I walked in town, I heard him preach so after his preaching sessions, he prayed for me before offering to get me a job.
“I really looked miserable as I had nowhere to go since I’m an orphan so after I told him my story, he took advantage of my desperation.
“He had told me that he lived with his wife but when we got to his place I found out that there was no woman at his place. On the first night I slept on the floor together with one guy called Panashe, whom he had also promised to help find a job,” she narrated.
Lisa said as days went on, the pastor started making sexual advances insisting that she could only continue staying with him if she agreed to have sex with him.
“I had tried to resist his advances but on the third day when he came home in the middle of the night, he told me that if I was not going to have sex with him, then I should find somewhere else to go.
“I had no option but to sleep with him as he had threatened to kick me out at night. After that we had sex every other day and started living as husband and wife for about three months,” she chronicled.
She recounted her ‘horror’ days that followed after giving in to the pastor’s sexual advances saying the man of cloth would not buy any food and she would go for days without eating.
“He started buying fast-foods and he would eat alone while he was not buying any groceries. I survived from handouts from our landlord before I was told of how he (Ignatius) was in the habit of bed hoping and that I was not the first victim.
“I then got a job in Dzivaresekwa and the woman agreed that I work while I was pregnant. My employer helped me until I gave birth as she paid all the bills,” she added.
The situation was calmed when police officers came to disperse the crowd that was baying for the pastor’s blood.
The pastor, Lisa and her relatives were later whisked to Marimba Police station.
The pastor later reportedly said that he was a victim of criminal abuse and had reported the case at Marimba Police Station under RRB 2987226.
He said the police picked up nine of the assailants at the scene of his humiliation.
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