'HIV+ pastor sodomise his congregant'

A House of Mana Church pastor facing two counts of aggravated indecent assault for sodomising his congregant is HIV positive, a Harare magistrate has heard.

The complainant, Tendai Tumba, yesterday told the court during Tizora Kaitano's trial that Silas Chimbumu advised him of the pastor's health status.

"I had visited Kaitano on the day intending to receive prayers. When I got into his room, he took out an oil bottle from his pillow and smeared some of it on my face," Tumba told the court.

"I felt hot and lost consciousness before he committed oral indecencies on my private parts and sodomised me. He also developed fully formed breasts. I later regained strength and left the room though Kaitano kept emphasising that I would die if I divulged the ordeal to anyone.

"When I arrived home I continuously experienced a blood stained discharge from my privates and later decided to tell Chimbumu about the abuse. He told me that pastor was HIV positive and encouraged me to file a police report," he said.

However, Kaitano denied the allegations and said he was shocked and embarrassed with Tumba's claims.

Chimbumu also testified in the case, detailing what Tumba had told him, before prosecutor Tungamirai Muganhiri closed the state's case.

According to court papers, after the incident, Tumba reportedly went to the pastor's residence the following morning.

He allegedly told Kaitano that that his privates were itchy but the pastor insisted that he would die if he was to reveal the abuse.

The court heard Tumba later told Chimbumu about the incident and the matter was reported to police, leading to Kaitano's arrest.

Trial continues today.