CHOMBA MUSIKA
Lusaka
MIRACLE Impact Church overseer John Nundwe, popularly known as Bishop John General, has been found with a case to answer in a case he is charged with rape.
Lusaka magistrate Amy Masoja-Chilangwa says from the evidence adduced, a prima facie case has been made out against the 52-year-old selfstyled prophet.
“Based on the evidence adduced by the state witnesses, I find you with a case to answer,” the magistrate said and placed the accused on defence.
Nundwe’s lawyers – Elijah Siatwambo and Yokonia Daka – informed the court that their client was not ready to open his defence.
“We are applying for an adjournment to enable us time to prepare our client for defence,” the defence team said.
Consequently, the magistrate adjourned the matter to April 21 for commencement of the accused’s defence.
Nundwe is accused of having carnal knowledge of a woman, who was aged 26 at the time, on November 22, 2023, between 13:00 hours and 14:00 hours, against her consent.
Evidence is that the victim, who we shall call Jessy, had invited the accused to her house for prayers to find a cure for her childlessness.
Jessy testified that the accused arrived at her house accompanied by another man, who was in the living room when the alleged sexual assault happened.
She told the court that when she asked the accused what was to be done for her to conceive, he told her “Bwela tupange [come we make]”.
The woman narrated that when it was time to conduct prayers, the accused instead pushed her onto the bed in the spare room and raped her.
The victim also said she only invited John General to her house for prayers, and not sex.
The court heard that the victim’s husband walked into the bedroom and found Nundwe naked, before he fled by jumping over the perimeter fence, leaving behind his car and clothes.
Jessy’s husband also testified, narrating how after being caught having sex with his wife, Nundwe asked the man he left in the living room to come with a gun.
He claimed that the accused wanted to shoot him before he fled…
