The eastern and western Dioceses of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) held their 153rd annual mission festival at Eembaxu and Euvathano in the Ohangwena and Oshana regions over the past weekend.

The mission festival is an annual event on the calendar of ELCIN where deaneries come together to commemorate and celebrate the missionary work brought by the Finnish missionaries who arrived at Omandongo in Onayena Constituency on July 7, 1870, to plant the seed of Christianity in Namibia.

The Omusati Police is investigating a case of fraud after a male senior pastor of ELCIN in the Western Diocese of the Nakayale Parish in Outapi, allegedly defrauded the church of N$3.4 million.

The money, which is said to have been embezzled over three months, has not yet been recovered and the suspect who is known is yet to be arrested.

The Omusati Regional Commander, Commissioner Ismael Basson told nbc News that the suspect will face a case of theft, fraud, and corruption.