Zimbabwean authorities have reported the detainment of an individual who identified as a prophet of an apostolic group. The arrest took place at a facility where over 250 children were reportedly being exploited for low-cost labor. A search of the compound also revealed 16 unregistered graves.
In a statement, police spokesperson Paul Nyathi alleged Ishmael Chokurongerwa, 56, a “self-styled” prophet, led a sect with more than 1,000 members at a farm about 34km (21 miles) north-west of the capital, Harare, where the children were staying alongside other believers.
He claimed that the kids, who have been saved, were forced to do manual labor for the sect leaders. Out of the 251 children, 246 did not have birth certificates.
Nyathi claimed that the police discovered all school-aged children were not receiving a proper education and were being taken advantage of as inexpensive labor, performing physical tasks under the guise of learning life skills.
According to law enforcement, the unregistered graves found included seven infants who were interred without proper notification to the authorities.
According to reports, the police conducted a raid on the shrine on Tuesday. The leader, known as Prophet Ishmael, and seven of his associates were apprehended on charges related to criminal behavior, such as the mistreatment of children.
Nyathi stated that further information will be disclosed as the investigation progresses.
The police were joined by a state-controlled newspaper, H-Metro, during their raid. Images from the newspaper show officers in riot gear having a dispute with female followers dressed in white and wearing head coverings. These women were requesting for the authorities to return the children who had been taken onto a police bus. It is uncertain where the children and their accompanying women were taken.
One of the women on the newspaper’s X, previously known as Twitter, account yelled, “Why are they taking our children? We are content here. We do not have any issues here.”
The news reports that law enforcement officers, equipped with firearms, tear gas, and canine units, “performed a remarkable operation” at the holy site. Followers referred to the location as “their designated place.”
Pentecostal doctrine is widely embraced in the deeply religious nation of southern Africa, with a strong presence of apostolic groups incorporating traditional beliefs into their teachings.
There has been little detailed research on Apostolic churches in Zimbabwe, but Unicef studies estimate it is the largest religious denomination with about 2.5 million followers in a country of 15 million. Some of the groups adhere to a doctrine demanding that followers avoid formal education for their children as well as medicines and medical care for members who must instead seek healing through their faith in prayer, holy water and anointed stones.
Some have recently started permitting their members to go to hospitals and enroll their children in school due to vigorous efforts by the government and non-profit organizations.
Source: theguardian.com
