Pastor in trouble for Allegedly R*ping Church Member He Promised to Pray for

A Magistrate Court in Zambia has committed a pastor to the High Court for sentencing after convicting him of raping a 22-year-old woman he had promised to pray for.

Senior resident magistrate Daniel Musonda yesterday found Revival for all Nations Church pastor James Thewo, 28, guilty of rape.

The court was convinced that on June last year, Thewo had unlawful carnal knowledge of the woman without her consent.

In his judgment, magistrate Musonda said there was overwhelming evidence from the State witnesses that the sexual intercourse between the ‘man of God’ and the named woman was not consensual.

“I am satisfied that the sexual intercourse was not consensual. I have more than enough evidence from independent witnesses to support the complainant’s testimony

“The prosecution has, therefore, managed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, and I find the accused guilty of rape, and I convict him accordingly,” Mr Musonda said.

He told Thewo the offence carries a minimum sentence of 15 years, which is beyond the jurisdiction of a subordinate court.

During trial, the woman testified that on the material day, she was attending interdenominational prayers and that the accused was the one conducting the prayers.

She narrated that after the prayers ended, Thewo got her phone and saved his phone number and asked her to call him as he had a vision from God about her.