Praise singer quits Church after pastor doesn’t visit child who collapsed during service
PASTOR Joel Chalikosa of Word of Faith Sowing Ministry in Ndola sued former church member, Melody Kamfwa before the Chipulukusu Local Court, accusing her of spreading allegations that he was a Satanist.
Chalikosa, 47, told the court that the allegations have cost him several church members.
He submitted that Kamfwa, 50, has allegedly been telling people that he was a Satanist, a development he said had damaged his reputation and affected his ministry by driving away some church members.
” I have decided to come to court inorder to find out if the defendant can substantiate the allegations made against me, which are currently damaging my reputation,” Chalikosa submitted.
The matter was heard before Honourable E. Nalwizya and J. Sakala.
According to evidence presented before the court, the allegations reportedly arose following the death of Kamfwa’s grandson and the illness of her daughter.
The court also heard that Abraham Kamalamba, a 30-year-old resident of Kanyanje and father of the deceased child in question, allegedly heard his mother-in-law accusing him and Pastor Chalikosa of causing the child’s death and attempting to harm the child’s mother because they wanted to acquire enough money.
However, Kamfwa denied accusing the pastor of Satanism.
“Your Honour, I did not at any point accuse the plaintiff of being a Satanist. I only left the church because the pastor has not visited my daughter from the time she became ill, despite her being one of his favourite praise singers in the church,” Kamfwa told the court.
She further submitted that she was surprised by her daughter’s illness, which she said began when she collapsed at the church altar after the pastor asked her to lead the praise team on that particular Sunday.
Audio evidence was also presented during the proceedings in an attempt to support the claims, but the allegations remained disputed.
Kamfwa’s son, Charles Kamfwa, 37, who testified as her witness, told the court that the family had sought the services of traditional healers in an attempt to establish the truth surrounding the death of his nephew as well as his sister’s illness.
However, Charles could not confirm whether the allegations against the pastor were true or not, saying the family did not know what the truth is.
The Court subsequently dismissed the case after finding that the allegations were based on hearsay.
-Yatu | Sanfrossa Mberi | October 25, 2026.