Pastor dies of starvation 20 days into his annual fasting period as he tried to emulate Jesus

PASTOR Brighton Samajomba of Zambia's Heaven Is My Home Church in the northwestern town of Solwezi has died of starvation 10 days before the end of his annual 30-day fasting programme as he tried to emulate Jesus.

Earlier this week, the clergyman was found dead by his wife in the early hours of the 20th day of his fasting programme. His death was confirmed by his brother Reagan Samajomba who said that the clergyman who led a lifestyle of taking on many days of prayer and fasting programmes, started his annual fasting programme on 8th of August with a view to praying for his family and church members who he wanted to remain united.

He added that Pastor Samanjomba took on many other yearly 90 days fasting programmes during which he only had a single meal in the evening each August. This time around though, the clergyman died in his sleep.

Reagan added: “I would say he died in the early hours, because my sister and his wife were there and took turns to check on him, and then it was time for my in law to check on him, she was with him according to her till mid night. Then she decided to rest, when she woke up, they had a tendency of sharing dreams with each other as partners, so she dreamt of something and wanted to tell the husband.

“However, as she tried to shake him up, he was not responding and so he was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The only consolation that we have as a family is the way he died because he was in the closet with the Lord."