Mother’s Heartbreaking Testimony Marks Turning Point In Madzibaba Ishmael’s Trial”

The trial of Apostolic sect leader Madzibaba Ishmael Chokurongerwa and seven alleged accomplices took a poignant turn last Friday when Memory Munanairi, the mother of a deceased victim, broke down in court while testifying.

Prosecutors Tafara Chirambira and Sheila Mupindu presented Munanairi as the eleventh witness in the case, which has drawn significant public interest.

Munanairi’s testimony detailed her harrowing experiences within the sect led by Chokurongerwa, who is accused of severe misconduct including the mistreatment of children and failing to follow legal procedures regarding births and deaths.

Munanairi recounted the strict and oppressive rules enforced at the sect’s shrine in Nyabira. According to her, Chokurongerwa was revered as a divine figure, with church members compelled to adhere to stringent guidelines. Munanairi described how the sect’s teachings mandated that all household possessions, including kitchen utensils, were considered the exclusive property of husbands. Women, she said, were denied any claim to ownership or decision-making power within the home.

The sect also forbade members from sending their children to school or seeking medical treatment outside the community. Munanairi’s account included the requirement for male adults to take multiple wives, with the Holy Spirit purportedly threatening those who failed to comply. Wives were tasked with finding additional spouses for their husbands. Furthermore, the sect’s practice involved not paying lobola (bride price) to a bride’s family; instead, families received only groceries. Munanairi’s own daughter, Hazel, was married off at the age of 15, and Munanairi was forced to serve as a midwife during Hazel’s childbirth. Hazel’s children were never registered, and the family avoided formal education and healthcare.

Munanairi’s distress was palpable as she described her expulsion from the shrine after expressing concern for Hazel’s welfare. She was eventually allowed to return only under police escort after discovering that Hazel had been secretly buried following her death.

The defendants, including Chokurongerwa (54), Takavengwa Gwenzi (55), Siribiniyo Chikunhire (53), Wonder Kabaya (41), Devlodge Katsande (48), Zebedia Sigudu (49), Aaron Chokurongerwa (47), and Shingirai Ngavafume (42), all from Lilly Farm in Nyabira, face multiple charges. These include ill-treatment of children, conducting burials without proper documentation, and failing to notify authorities of births and deaths.

In their defense, the accused argued that they had no formal guardian responsibilities for the minors in question, suggesting that the State’s claims were unfounded. They contended that no complaints had been lodged with the police by the victims or their families, implying that the State’s actions were excessive. The defendants also disputed the allegations of improper burials, claiming that they had not conducted any ceremonies without appropriate notifications.

As the trial resumes, the court will continue to examine the detailed testimonies and evidence presented. The case remains a focal point for discussions on religious practices, legal obligations, and the protection of vulnerable individuals within such communities.