Money matters are making life complicated for some church-goers in Windhoek. In two separate instances Informanté learnt about a fight that broke out in one church in Katutura and in another case church-goers were locked out of their place of worship in Khomasdal.

The pastor of the Pentecostal Protestant Church of Hakahana Assemly in Windhoek is accused by church-members of physically assaulting a fellow church-leader when the man asked to see the church’s financial report.
“I was worried about the budget of the church, because I could not see how the church’s money is being used. The last report that I saw was four years ago. I arranged a meeting with the pastor, the secretary of finance and other church leaders. Everyone agreed and the meeting was set for last week Sunday at 14h00.” Eric Kosenge (49) says. He claims that the last financial report that he had seen was in 2008.
Kosenge says that Pastor Imanuel Shaueke started to pull him around by his shirt during the meeting when he asked for the most recent financial report. “I was completely saddened by the pastor’s behavior. He is a pastor and it is wrong for him to do something like that. He set a bad example for us.” He claimed that the 2008 financial reports indicated that the Secretary of Finance, Damiin Kasoma, gave the church a loan of N$18,000, but that none of the church leaders were aware of the loan.
“If a loan was given what has been done with that money? We never used that money.” Apparently a budget for expanding the church building was also agreed on, but the construction job was never finished. Moses Siyanbu who attends the same church confirmed that there is a dispute over finances. “On Sunday Kosenge wanted to know about the church’s financial reports, but Pastor Shaueke refused. They started to quarrel about it and a small fight broke out, but they were stopped,” he reported.
When contacted for comment Pastor Shaueke accused Kosenge of assaulting him. “Kosenge wanted to host a meeting. I told him no. He got angry and started to hit me. He was stopped by some church members. How can he come into the church and start a fight? The church is not a place for fighting,” the pastor retorted. Secretary of Finance Kasoma also says that Kosenge started the fight. Kasoma admitted to making a loan to the church. “I gave the loan to make to church bigger,” he says. “Kosenge has been away from the church for two years. He came back a month ago and suddenly demands the financial records of the church. I don’t know why he wants to know about the church’s money and he even started a fight when he was told no.”
In a related incident at another Pentecostal church in Khomasdal churchgoers faced a major dilemma over money matters. The problem started on Sunday last week when the owners of Khomas Mall welded shut the doors to The Assembly of God Pentecostal Portuguese Community Church. The place of worship was allegedly closed down last week by the owners of the Mall because the community is in arrears with the monthly rent. The doors to the church were welded shut and the doors chained by the Teachers Union of Namibia who owns the premises. The church remains closed, but the leader of the church, Pastor Fernando, promised that the outstanding rent would be paid by Friday, 30 March.