Vapostori and MaZion for ED spokesperson Mr Obey Mapuranga
told a media conference in Harare yesterday that the national Vapostori group
would take action.
“The people of Zimbabwe should continue to live together in
peace and treat allegations against Madzibaba Ishmael as a singular case in
which, if he is found guilty, we will engage the leaders of the National
Judicial Council of Vapostori to proceed with religious counselling and
guidance to the Vapostori families at Lilly Farm so that they continue
worshipping, residing and farming in line with the right religious practices
and freedom of religion according to the constitution of Zimbabwe,” he said.
Mr Mapuranga said Vapostori had confidence in the country’s
law enforcement agencies,with the issue being handled professionally by the
police and courts.
“We understand the seriousness of the allegations against
Madzibaba Ishmael and his followers. However, we have full confidence in our
law enforcement agencies and the judicial system to address these matters with
the utmost professionalism,” said Mr Mapuranga.
He emphasised the organisation’s commitment to upholding
the religious and spiritual dictates of the Johanne Masowe Chishanu religion,
which is against early marriages and child abuse.
But Mr Mapuranga said there was some “disturbing
information and evidence” about some non-governmental organisations that are
“waging a religious war against Vapostori as a whole”.
“These agents are indirectly lobbying for the eradication
of the Vapostori religion in Zimbabwe,” said Mr Mapuranga
Chokurongerwa appeared before Norton magistrate Ms
Christine Nyandoro on Monday and was denied bail, together with his seven
co-accused.
They are jointly charged with two counts of contravening
sections of the Burial and Cremation Act and the Children’s Act and were
remanded in custody to April 4 for routine remand. Chokurongerwa’s co-accused
are members of Johane Masowe-aligned Gore Jena Penyera Nyika: Shingirai
Ngawafune (42), Takavengwa Gwenzi (55), Zebedia Sigudu (49), Devlodge Katsande
(47), Aaron Chokurongerwa (47), Wonder Kabaya (41) and Siribinio Chikurunhe
(53).
They were all represented by lawyer, Purity Chikanganise.
The State is alleging that Chokurongerwa and his co-accused
buried or conducted funeral services for Hazel Chikunhire and Winlet Kabaya
without obtaining proper burial orders for the two.
It is further alleged that the sect leaders, being
guardians of the children that lived at the church’s compound in Nyabira,
neglected, abandoned and exposed the children in a manner that likely caused
them unnecessary suffering.
Their arrests came after police raided the farm and rescued
251 children, with 246 said to have no birth certificates.
Police also found 16 graves near Madzibaba Ishmael’s shrine
and investigations showed that they were for nine adults and seven children.
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