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The woman accusing Pentecostal Bishop John General, whose real name is John Nundwe, of rape requested a break during her cross-examination in court yesterday, citing exhaustion after being intensely questioned by the defense.
Senior state prosecutor, Joe Phiri, requested an adjournment, stating that the witness needed a health break. When Lusaka Magistrate, Amy Masoja, inquired if the witness could continue, she firmly stated that she was too tired to proceed. The trial was then adjourned to April 7 and 8, 2025.
Bishop Nundwe, the overseer of Miracle Impact Ministries International in Lusaka’s Matero Township, is accused of raping the woman under the pretense of offering prayers to help her overcome multiple miscarriages.
During cross-examination, defense lawyers, Yokonia Daka and Elijah Siatwambo, pressed the woman for evidence of her alleged miscarriages and questioned her decision not to inform her husband about inviting Nundwe for prayer. The woman admitted she had not told her husband but maintained that she sought spiritual help.
However, the defense highlighted inconsistencies in her testimony, particularly concerning the timeline of her pregnancies and medical history. She struggled to clarify key details.
The defense also examined her communication with Nundwe, referencing messages retrieved by ZICTA (Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority). The woman acknowledged initiating several messages to Nundwe, including one requesting anointing oil. However, when asked about missing or deleted messages, she claimed to have no recollection of deleting them.
One of the most contentious moments in court arose when the defense questioned whether anyone had witnessed the alleged rape. Initially, the woman claimed there was a witness but later admitted that no one had directly seen the act.
The woman’s husband, who had previously testified, stated that he had left for work early that morning. However, phone records revealed that the woman had called Nundwe just an hour after her husband left. Additionally, it was revealed that she had sent a message to Nundwe the day before the alleged incident, although its contents were not retrieved.
When asked why she hadn’t informed her husband about the visit, the woman admitted she had not done so.
Despite the defense’s continued questioning, the woman stood by her allegations. The trial is set to continue when court resumes on April 7 and 8, 2025. Nundwe has pleaded not guilty to the charge of rape.
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