A SELF-proclaimed bishop from Bulawayo who, with his brother who is still at large, raped and impregnated a 17 year old congregate at their church has been sentenced to 20 years in jail.
The self-anointed man of God stunned a court when he failed to recite four common bible verses.
Andrew Mnkandla (41) held the victim hostage at his house while he raped her.
The court heard he went to the teen's mother with his wife and tried to bribe her so that she convinces her daughter to change her statement in court.
Regional magistrate Mr Chrispen Mberewere asked Mnkandla to recite Genesis 1 verse 1, Psalms 23 verse 1, John 3 verse 16 and John 14 verse 1.
Mnkandla drew chuckles from the gallery when he said John 3 verse 16 reads: "Let your hearts not be troubled."
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| Bishop rapes, impregnates a 17 year old congregate, jailed |
"Oh well Bishop, it looks like the bible is giving you a hard time. You can't even answer very common verses familiar to many people. Let's just get back to the business that brings you here, that of bedroom issues, because you seem to be better in that department," said Mr Mberewere.
The State had alleged that Mnkandla and his brother Lovemore (34) a pastor at the church, which was not named in court, raped the teen on different occasions.
The duo threatened that if she told anyone, the demons they had exorcised from her, would return with scores of others to haunt her.
In her testimony, the teen said Lovemore raped her at Khami Mountains and Mnkandla raped her at his house.
