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A Lusaka pastor who allegedly raped an 18-year-old girl entrusted to him for spiritual cleansing and sponsorship to school has told the court that she was his girlfriend.
George Phiri, aged 30, a pastor of United End of Times Church in Kanyama compound said he did not rape her but had sex with her as she had consented.
This is a matter in which Phiri pleaded not guilty to one count of rape contrary to the laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that Phiri took the victim to unknown Lodge, had sex with her as part of spiritual cleansing.
Read more: Court told how pastor of End of Times church raped 18-year-old church member
It is also alleged that, he smeared white powder on her private part and sprinkled some water on her body claiming that he had a spiritual husband which needed to be removed whilst naked on the bed.
But Phiri in his defense, denied the allegations on grounds that the victim was his girlfriend and they were in a relationship.
Further in his defense, Phiri told Lusaka magistrate Idah Phiri that the victim wanted him to sponsor her to school and buy her a phone of which he agreed.
Phiri narrated that he met the Victim at his church when her mother brought her for prayers as she had a problem of stomach pains and was eating in her sleep.
“I am a pastor at United End of time international Ministries, It was in July 2022 when we congregated together in our church with the victim’s mother. We finished the service and around 14hrs she approached me that her daughter had a problem.I asked what the problem was and I was told that she had stomach problem and a problem of eating in her sleep in the night,” Phiri said.
He further narrated that the victim’s mother told him that they had gone round churches but to no avail.
“As we were talking outside the church, the victim started vomiting, she vomited quiet alot for about 5 minutes, she vomited black stuff, and I told her that was the end of her problem. We knocked off, on Monday they came to my home saying they wanted to thank me and said the girl slept well and did not encounter any problems during her sleep,” he said.
Also read: Lusaka Court sentences man to 2 years imprisonment for attempted rape
Phiri testified that after sometime, the victim came to his shop and got interested in learning how to operate a computer.
He said the victim whilst in his shop started complaining of how she stopped school in grade six, how her family was suffering and how she wanted to get married or start work.
“I advised her to go back to school because it could solve her problems and I said I was willing take her back to school and to pay her school fees.I gave her a condition that since she had recovered from the sickness and was good looking, I desired that she becomes my friend and my duty was to ensure that i take her to school and she completes and becomes girlfriend,” he said.
Phiri said he proposed to the victim and a love affair started the very day.
“She became my girlfriend until one day when we were at the shop as she always comes to learn how to use a computer. She requested that I buy her a phone, a touched screen and I told her that it was good that she asked for a phone. And after a while, we saw her parents visiting saying they wanted to leave the victim in my hands as I wanted to take her to school. They left her in my house and went to the Copperbelt,” Phiri said.
He further testified that they started dating and on a material day he took her out for leisure at a certain lodge where he had sex with her.
“She consented to having sex with me, I just saw her removing her shirt and I removed my shirt, and she asked me if I had a condom and I said I didn’t have condom. She said I was too sleepy, she then touched the pillow and found the condom. I asked her to hand to me so I removed my trousers I was wearing a red pair of boxer. I wanted to wear a condom then she held me by my right hand . She asked where I had seen a man wearing a condom on his own , she took the condom and dressed it on me thats how I had sex with her,” he narrated.
Phiri told the court that there was no powder or dish as purported and that there was no resistance the victim entered the room willingly and she never fainted.
Trial continues.
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