Woman Accuses ‘Bishop’ of Rape Under Pretense of Prayer in Lusaka Court*
A woman has testified before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court, accusing John Nundwe, known as Bishop John General, of raping her under the guise of prayer.
Nundwe, the overseer of Miracle Impact Ministries International in Matero Township, allegedly preyed on the woman’s deep desire to conceive after multiple miscarriages.
According to her testimony, the woman first encountered the self-proclaimed bishop in 2022 through a televised religious program.
Inspired by glowing testimonies from other women who claimed to have conceived through his prayers, she sought his help.
However, the spiritual intervention came at a steep price; she paid K1,000 for a one-on-one session with the bishop and later spent an additional K1,500 on anointing oil and water, which she was instructed to drink, sprinkle in her home, and even use to mop the floors.
Despite following these directives, the woman did not conceive.
She informed Nundwe, who then insisted he needed to visit her home for a more direct prayer session.
On November 24, 2023, the accused arrived at her residence while her husband was away.
Her testimony took a horrifying turn when she recounted how she discovered Nundwe completely naked in one of the bedrooms.
Instead of offering prayers, he allegedly demanded sex, claiming it was part of the process to “bless her womb.”
When she resisted, another man who had accompanied the bishop allegedly forced her into the room.
Fearing for her life, the woman testified that Nundwe even threatened to have her killed, referencing previous victims.
She said the accused called for a gun, but her husband’s sudden return disrupted the ordeal.
She stated that another pastor, allegedly sent by Nundwe, attempted to persuade her to forgive the accused and resolve the matter outside court.
She was allegedly told that even the same pastor had once found himself in a “similar situation” with a church member, which had been “sorted out” quietly.
This revelation sparked heated exchanges between the defense and prosecution, with the defense objecting to any mention of the said pastor, calling it “character assassination.”
The magistrate advised the court to focus on the allegations at hand.
