A mother in Luapula has been left in anguish after a pastor she accommodated in her home to pray for her 14-year-old daughter allegedly defiled the girl.
The victim had complained of being initiated into satanism by a neighbor, and the pastor was invited to help deliver her.
However, Joseph Simumbi allegedly took advantage of the situation and sexually abused the victim, threatening that if she refused, she would die due to the evil spirits within her. 
Police have launched a manhunt as he is on the run.
Luapula Province commanding officer Mwala Yuyi stated that the incident occurred on March 16, 2025.
“The brief facts of the matter are that on March 16, 2025, at around 16:00 hours, the victim was at home with her mother when Joseph Shimumbi, known as an apostle (pastor), went to the victim’s house to pray for her. He claimed that she had evil spirits after being initiated into satanism by a neighbor,” he said.
Mr Yuyi explained that the pastor was accommodated in the victim’s household to render prayers for her.
However, during the prayers, the suspect began to propose love to the victim.
“He told the victim that if she refused to have sex with him, she would die from the evil spirit. On the same day at night, when the mother was not at home, the apostle took the victim to his room under the pretext of praying for her,” he said.
Mr Yuyi added that in the process, the victim was sexually abused in her mother’s absence.
When the mother returned home, the victim narrated her ordeal.
