A 25-YEAR-OLD woman of Ndola on the Copperbelt has refused to be rescued from confinement which police say is illegal imprisonment imposed on her by a prophet.
Theresa Nakazwe has been confined in the church run by James Mwale known to many prophet Yakobo Yakobo since last December.
Yakobo Yakobo who runs Restoration Apostolic Pentecostal Church International quarantined
Nakazwe in order to treat her of her dizziness and protracted menustration.
Zambia Police, the Ndola City Council Public Health section had to be called in to investigate the matter and picked up Yakobo Yakobo after the matter was reported to Ndola Mayor Amon Chisenga.
Copperbelt Police Commissioner Charity Katanga said has confirmed.
“Suspected unlawful confinement occurred between the month of December 2019 on unknown date and time and May 7, 2020 at 09:30 hours at Restoration Apostolic Pentecostal Church International of Ndola in which Catherine Moyo 40 of House number 0826 Nkwazi compound Ndola reported to the Ndola Mayor Amon Chisenga that her daughter Theresa Nakazwe 25 has wrongfully been confined at the above Church by Pastor Yakobo Yakobo (James Mwale) without the consent of her guardian Enock Sikazwe,” Katanga explained.
“The mayor, Council Public Health section and Zambia Police moved in, and found Theresa Nakazwe at the above Church. Police picked up Yakobo Yakobo for questioning pertaining to the custody of the victim.”
Katanga said the victim admitted that she voluntarily went to the Church to receive prayers over her illness of dizziness.
“During the interviews, the alleged victim revealed that she was voluntarily at the church to receive prayers over her illness of dizziness and prolonged mensuration, and that she was there with full consent of her guardian Enock Sikazwe who was also called to be part of the interview and he agreed.”
Katanga said the concern is from the ministry of Health on the illegality of keeping patients at the Church in the COVID19 era.
“Concerns from the ministry of health public health section and council public health section where raised over the illegality of keeping patients at the church in this COVID19 era. Thereafter the ministry advised the founder Yakobo Yakobo to discharge all his patients until he obtains a license to practice such. Police have not arrested Yakobo Yakobo because the allegation of unlawful confinement is therefore not true,” said Katanga.
Prophet Yakobo Yakobo is notorious for scandals with the recent one where he was allegedly found having sex with a Church member at the gate of Ndola Teaching Hospital mortuary.
