Several religious sects, healers and prayer houses that had been operating outside the law in the province of Cabinda were recently closed by the Provincial Secretariat of Culture in Cabinda. To this end, the operation was supported by personnel from the National Police (PN), the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC) and the Civil Protection and Fire Service (SPCB)
There are, in total, 21 healers (aka “kimbandeiros”) who were banned from carrying out this activity for carrying out “strange rituals”, simulating the cure of many diseases, promising to facilitate access to employment for many citizens, as well as resolving women’s issues. with infertility problems.
The provincial secretary of Culture in Cabinda, Ernesto Barros André, said that the aforementioned kimbandeiros, mostly from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in addition to harmful practices, were also involved in fuel smuggling.
As an example, as evidence, he said that in one of the dismantled houses, 140 containers and 26 containers full of fuel were removed. The actions of the public order forces, part of the “Lussolo operation”, carried out by the PN in 2023, also culminated in the closure of three prayer cells, the suspension of two others and the issuing of 22 warnings to improve the conditions of work.
Another situation that afflicts local authorities has to do with the way in which people are easily “instrumentalized” by false prophets or religious leaders. The Secretary of Culture stated that the population of Cabinda, estimated at around 600 thousand inhabitants, adheres quite easily to any doctrine that is introduced in the province. “People are led to every basis of doctrine.
People, since their youth, have been learning the word of God through a church, but there comes a point when they put everything into question to adhere to other religions and other doctrines.” For Ernesto André, this is perhaps due to the uncertain roots of what is learned in churches, as it is easy for a religion to establish itself in the province of Cabinda. “This leaves people in awe. While we should defend what we already know and already have in our doctrinal basis”, he considered.
BY: Alberto Coelho, in Cabinda