52 die waiting to see ‘miracle pastor’

A Tanzanian pastor has asked people to stop going to his remote home for a “miracle cure” after thousands flocked there, causing chaos in the surrounding area. Rev Ambilikile “Babu” Mwasapile, 76, says he does not want any new arrivals until after Friday April 1, to let the crowds die down.

Local media report that about 52 people have died while waiting to see him.
The queues to see him stretch for 26km (16 miles), BBC reported. Belief in magic and the powers of traditional healers are widespread in Tanzania.

Some witchdoctors say that the body parts of people with albinism are effective when making magic charms, leading to the killing of dozens of albinos in recent years.

Mr Mwasapile’s concoction is made from herbs and water, which he sells for 500 Tanzanian shillings (five cents; 3p). Medical experts in Tanzania are investigating both whether it is safe and if it has any medicinal properties.
When she visited Mr Mwasapile’s home near the northern Loliondo town recently, the BBC’s Caroline Karobia found 6,000 people waiting to see the retired Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) pastor.

They are waiting for days by the roadside and outside his home in Samunge village without shelter, clean water or toilets. As word has spread in the past month of the pastor’s supposed ability to cure any ailments, some people have even been taken out of hospital by their relatives who believe they are more likely to be cured by Mr Mwasapile.

Some of these have died before seeing him, while others are reported to have died after taking his concoction. Extra police have been deployed to the area to control the huge crowds, some of whom have travelled from neighbouring countries such as Kenya and even further afield. Mr Mwasapile asked for the break following a meeting with local officials.

Posted: at 30-03-2011 10:48 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Illitracy and poverty are still thrivingly popular in Afica. God have mercy, uh....

---

Posted: at 30-03-2011 02:09 PM (13 years ago) | Hero

Running from problems only to meet death.....Lord have mercy!

Posted: at 30-03-2011 02:47 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

amen

---

Posted: at 30-03-2011 04:08 PM (13 years ago) | Addicted Hero

Mungu utusamehe...ignorance is bad,education is the answer to all

Posted: at 30-03-2011 10:49 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

ABI NA JESUS WAY DEM DEY SEE LOL

Posted: at 31-03-2011 06:58 AM (13 years ago) | Upcoming

Bang on target. Education is the answer.

Posted: at 31-03-2011 07:17 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Thank God say Naija name free from this one...african ppl na wa oooooo anyway we go still call God make him have marcy on us.

Posted: at 31-03-2011 09:14 AM (13 years ago) | Upcoming

pastor at it again ooo

Posted: at 31-03-2011 06:21 PM (13 years ago) | Grande Master

they try!

Posted: at 1-04-2011 01:35 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming