Church pastors threaten college management with deaths

Church pastors threaten college management with deaths

Solwezi, February 27, ZANIS —— Some pastors who have illegally built churches on the Solwezi Trades Training Institute (SOTTI) have threatened the institution staff with death if they insist on relocating them.

SOTTI Principal John Nshindamba disclosed this during a consultative meeting called by the District Commissioner Crispin Likando to resolve the impasse between the institution and the churches from Zambia compound that have encroached on their land.

Mr Nshindamba said the five churches have illegally built their structures on the college land and have been resisting leaving.

He complained that some pastors instead of engaging the College Board on the issue have been declaring that God should strike the members of staff to death if they interfere with the structures.

A representative from the Cornerstone International church Pastor Liberty Chabala said the land that they have occupied was given to them by God and they will not leave as doing so will result in loss of church members.  

But Shalom Shalom Pastor Zebron Daka admitted that they have encroached on the college land and none of the churches have authority from council to occupy the land.

The pastors have however asked the college to allow them continue operating in the area saying they have spent a lot of money on building the structures.  

And District Commissioner Likando said it was illegal for the churches to build structures on the college land as the piece of land has been reserved for future expansions of the institution.

The churches that face eviction include Shalom Shalom, Cornerstone International, Nazarene, Potters House and Divine Christ Church.