Staff Writer
The two pastors accused of administering a concoction that killed three people in Kavango West last week have since appeared in the Kahenge Magistrate’s Court.
They appeared in court on Friday last week.
Hamutenya Engelberth (25) and Elia Ihemba (36) are each facing three counts of murder with an alternative to culpable homicide and attempted murder each.
The charges emanate from the death of Ndumba Evaristus Ntamba (37), Ndumba Robertha Nangombe (45) and Simbaranda Hilka Kapango (21).
The other charge of attempted murder arises from the case of a fourth person who has been hospitalised. The person who was hospitalised is aged 39.
Both are pastors at the Victory Church and the tragic incident happened at Mutengo village on Monday last week.
Last week, the police said the four sought healing at the church where they were attended to by an assistant pastor Ihemba, with instructions from the senior pastor Hamutenya.
The concoction had white vinegar, methylated spirits and salt and was administered from the rectal using a tube.
After they took the medicine, they four went to rest in their tents and later started to have diarrhea and one of them started screaming from pain caused by the medicine they took.
Later that evening, three died in their tents while one was hospitalised at Nankundu State Hospital.
Ihemba was arrested at the church on Tuesday, while Hamutenya was later arrested on Wednesday at Karukuvisa village in the Kavango East region.
The police allegedly found him busy at work treating people.
The two were denied bail and their case postponed to 12 January 2022.
