Africa-Press – Namibia. • ANNA SHINANA and SOPHIE TENDANE
THE Namibian Christian Freedom Fighters (NCFF) have threatened to stage a mass demonstration next week over so-called unfair treatment by the police.
This comes after inspector general of the Namibian Police Sebastian Ndeitunga deployed chief inspector Christina van Dunem-Dafonsech to the north of the country to weed out mushrooming controversial churches.
NCFF president Festus Thomas says the arbitrary closure of their churches is neither fair nor constitutional.
“We are not condoning crimes to be committed under the body of Christ, but the police should fix the mistake they have committed this week by closing down churches, and focus on dealing with those found to have committed crimes under the guise of the church,” Thomas says.
He says he is mobilising “peace-loving and God-fearing” Christians for a peaceful demonstration.
“There are thousands of people in this country who depend on the church and are members of churches out of their own choice, but now they are being punished.
“We are a peace-loving nation, and we love our country, but we also know our rights and we love the police as well, but you cannot come to a house where one person has committed a crime and you burn down the whole house,” he says.
“The police should have targeted those or causing chaos and arrest only those who have committed crimes.”
The church group says the police should rather target churches which have been found guilty of transgressions, instead of punishing many Christians by closing down churches.
“We are tired of criticism of the revival churches and segregation. Allegations are made without proof. They are just looking for reasons to incriminate and close down churches, which is unconstitutional unless there were court orders to do so,” Thomas says.
Thomas reiterated that the group does not condone crime.
Meanwhile, Ndeitunga says the police will not back down, adding that churches have the right to protest and exercise their constitutional rights.
He says the police are promoting peace and stability for the benefit of Namibian citizens.
“These churches are telling people in the community they are bewitching each other, they have demons, and they should not talk. Those are the churches we are going for.
“Some churches do not even have documents, and many people are pouring lots of money into them,” Ndeitunga says.
He says some of the churches are lying to the unsuspecting public, saying they can cure HIV-AIDS.
“Those who want to demonstrate are welcome, we want them to assist us and fight the illegitimate churches in our society together,” Ndeitunga says.
He says the police are not infringing on the rights of people to attend churches, but are keen on weeding out rogue elements.
“We respect the regions and all churches, but we will fight illegitimate churches. There are lots of people complaining about these churches,” he says.
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