Moxico - The government of Moxico shut down a Christian Congregation Church in the Sinai Novo Velho neighborhood of Luena on Friday, accusing it of spreading false promises and "dividing families".

The church is accused of operating outside the law by preventing sick people from going to the hospital with promises of healing.

Speaking to the press, the director of the Moxico Provincial Cultural Office, Ester Alberto, said that the leader of the aforementioned religious denomination lured sick believers with promises of healing in exchange for money.

"The pastor managed to divide families with contradictory prophecies," she said.

Ester Alberto called on the population to denounce religious sects of dubious origin that invoke the name of God to raise money for their own benefit, stressing that there are many religious denominations in the province that practice similar actions and operate illegally, which will be closed.

The Bishop of the Council of Revival Churches of Angola (CIRA), Fernando Chicuta, for his part, rejected the actions of the Congregação Cristã for violating the law, in addition to its "miraculous healing" practices.

In 2024, the Provincial Office of Culture closed three religious denominations with identical practices, and it is estimated that there are more than 30 churches operating illegally in the province LTY/TC/YD/DAN/AMP