HARARE - Wilson Duncan Kwambana, founder and pastor of Mount Olives Church, allegedly raped a congregant several times claiming to be strengthening the Holy Spirit, a Harare court has heard.

Kwambana, 32, yesterday appeared before magistrate Anita Tshuma facing eight counts of rape.

The pastor allegedly told the 22-year-old mechanical engineering student that she had the spirit of Mbuya Nehanda, a famous Shona spirit medium, the court was told.

It is alleged Kwambana later told the woman the Holy Spirit had chosen a husband for her. The husband, according to state papers, is identified as Tendai Chivangu.

The court heard that in June last year, Kwambana and Chivangu together with Stembiso Dangwira, Gabriel Akupa and Memory Akupa, who are Mount Olives church members, went to Honde Valley.

Kwambana allegedly instigated Chivangu and the woman to have sexual intercourse, claiming it was to empower and unveil the spirits of Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi.

During the same month, it is alleged Kwambana took the woman and other church members to Kambuzuma Hill, Harare, where he had sexual intercourse with her four times in his car.

The court was told that the same team went to Rusape, Chinhoyi, Masvingo, Bulawayo, Kariba and Victoria Falls, where Kwambana and Chivangu took turns to have sexual intercourse with the woman.

Magistrate Tshuma released Kwambana on $100 bail and ordered him to return to court on November 21 for trial. — Tendai Kamhingira