Police in Zimbabwe have arrested a man for allegedly claiming to be a prophet of an apostolic sect at a shrine where followers stay in a compound believed to be a cultic organization.
According to police spokesman Paul Nyathi, the 56-year-old Ishmael Chokurongerwa led a sect with over 1,000 members at a farm roughly 34 kilometers in northwest of Harare.
Officers armed with guns, teargas and dogs conducted the raid on Wednesday, 13, 2024.
Authorities found 16 unregistered graves, including those of infants, and more than 250 children used as cheap labor.
Nyathi further revealed that 246 children had no birth certificates and were denied formal education.
Alongside other believers, the children were being exploited for labor within the cultic environment.
Lack of Formal Education for Zimbabwe victims
“Police established that all children of school going age did not attend formal education and were subjected to abuse as cheaper labor, doing manual works in the name of being taught life skills,” Nyathi said.
However, the prophet’s assistants defended their actions claiming divine instructions supersede formal education.
“God forbids formal education because the lessons learnt at such schools go against his dictates,” One aide asserted.
Following a raid on March,12,2024, police apprehended the self-proclaimed prophet along with seven aides on charges of abusing minors and engaging in criminal activities.
Also Read: Police Say Some of the Shakahola Bodies were Pastor Ezekiel’s Followers
According to Zimbabwean H-Metro Newpaper, police were clashed with female believers in white garments, demanding the return of the children taken away by authorities.
Prophet Ishmael’s Aides Demands
“Why are they taking our children? We are comfortable here. We don’t have a problem here,” the women shouted.
Apostolic groups blending traditional beliefs with Pentecostal doctrine are popular in Zimbabwe, with UNICEF estimating around 2.5 million followers.
Also Read: DCI Detectives Discover 12 More Graves on Pastor Mackenzi’s Farm
Some sects reject formal education and medical care, relying solely on faith for healing and guidance.
In contrast, efforts by governmental and non-governmental organizations have pressured certain groups to allow schooling and medical treatment for their members.
This incident mirrors the infamous Shakahola massacre in Kenya.
In 2023, police arrested Paul Mackenzi for allegedly starving his congregants to death in pursuit of meeting Jesus.
The assistant pastor had reported that Mackenzie told his followers to pull their children out of school, discard their national IDs, avoid hospitals, and start preparing for the end of the world.
Moreover, the pastor and tens of other followers are facing charges including murder and child torture.
