User:Bergitta Aifete

No clue that prophets are god's messenger by bergitta Aifete

His influence and alleged healing powers are well documented, with thousands of pilgrims flocking to his synagogue in Nigeria every year.

However, for many Namibians who regard T.B. Joshua a prophet, travelling to see, hear and if possible, touch his hand, it has proven to be an unholy endeavor, following allegations of fraud against two of the synagogue’s Namibian co-ordinators.Bold text'

Josephine Ndara, an employee of a telecommunications company in Windhoek, and Christelline Vega-Biart, the founder of Mount Sinai Centre in Soweto, are being accused of pocketing thousands of dollars for overcharging desperate Namibians wanting to travel to consult Joshua, a millionaire televangelist believed to posess remarkable healing powers. Informanté is reliably informed the situation is creating headaches for the top brass at the Nigerian Consulate in Windhoek who are bothered by constant complains of neglect of Namibian pilgrims, through the Namibian Embassy in Abuja.Bold text'

The pair usually travel with a maximum of 120 split between the two of them, charging more than N$18 000 per person for a week’s stay in Nigeria. A woman in her late thirties (known to Informanté) reportedly paid Vega-Biart before making a U-turn after discovering that she was over-charged for a trip that is estimated to cost not more than N$14 000, including a return ticket, lodging and meals. The woman had to solicit the City Police’s assistance after Vega-Biart allegedly refused to refund her.Bold text'

"Ndara and Vega-Biart make a profit of about N$4 000 per person, amounting to N$240 000 each per trip, depending on whether they depart with 60 pilgrims each," a source privy to the two’s dealings said.

When this reporter contacted Ndara seeking information on the procedures and costs involved if one is to make the trip to Nigeria, she said all pilgrims are required to have at least N$20 000, which includes $800 (N$6 640) for lodging and meals and an additional $100 (N$830) in administration fees. These payments exclude airfare.Bold text'

She was also quick to point out that not all the applicants get the opportunity to travel, as the shortlisting of potential candidates is approved by the synagogue’s elders in Nigeria. After being told that she was talking to an Informanté reporter, Ndara protested that the number dialed was wrong, before hanging up. Vega-Biart declined to comment.

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