‘Pastors lack father figures’

Religion Reporter
University of Zimbabwe psychology lecturer Mr Gwatireva Javangwe told The Sunday Mail Religion that some pastors abuse congregants due to social deficiences emanating from lack of mentorship. “There are many psychological standpoints such as loneliness that some of these leaders experience. Some of it emanates from poor attachment during early years. There might have been no father figure in their lives to supervise them and define socially appropriate behaviour,” he said.

“The work settings are such that they have very few people around them, that they confide in when they have problems.
‘‘It is usually difficult for them to disclose their lack of love or relationship problems at home and would engage in counter-transference when clients present them with problems that mimmick their own and as a result, pounce on the unsuspecting women.”

He also said: “These men of cloth do not also seek treatment or therapy for their own problems and pretend as if everything is okay. These men lack accountability.

They have, for a long time, been left to do things as they please and some of them threaten their victims with bad omens or curses should they refuse.

“The women fall prey out of, not necessarily desperation but intimidation. They induce fear and also promise their victims goods that, in most cases, do not materialise.”