Child sexual abuse has taken a new twist in Zimbabwe in this 21 st century era with religious sects and cults openly defying laws of the country and other international laws protecting children and girl child rights and dignity. Most of the children, especially girls who attend or are forced to attend Johanne Marange Apostolic so called cult have been forced in early marriages or sexually abused relationships during their teens or even below 12 years old. Most of these young girls will be married off to sex greed old men of the cult. This has been going on for decades since the sect formative years. These sexually abusive old men would be allowed to marry young girls as wives as many as they can admire or ‘dream’ as potential wives during church services.
“ The government of Zimbabwe has been on the forefront of campaigning for protection of child rights and dignity, but most legislators have or decided to keep closed eyes and ears on the allegations of sexual abuse of the girl child by male members of Johanne Marange Apostolic sect. Maybe most of the government ministers and Members of Parliament were born members of the cult and take it as normal the sexual abuse of girl child in the so called church and take no offense and probably that is why the government is in sixes and nines in trying to bring the culprits before the courts. The sect can violate Covid 19 and lockdown regulations with impunity and law enforcement agents are afraid to arrest the offending members”, said a retired police officer from Mutare, where the church is dominant.
Most of the church ‘secret’ shenanigans were brought out the bag when the now late ( may her soul rest in peace and may her ‘killers’ be brought to court) pregnant 14 year old Memory Machaya died at a shrine in Bocha, Marange. She was denied the much needed medical care as the church leaders watched her die in pain and secretly buried her without postmortem or any report of her demise made public.
“ This the type of nation Zimbabwe has degenerated into in this 21 st century era, where a 14 year girl child is sexually abused, married off to an old religious sect godfather, denied medical care, dies at a shrine under the watchful eyes of cult hawks and buried secretly as if nothing has happened. It boggles the mind that the so called main stream media did not bother to follow the story which was awash on social media and online publications. Even law enforcement agencies could not bat an eyelid, only to run around as the story and petitions for action took centre stage on digital media and the internet “, said Matthew Khumalo, a human rights defender in Harare.
It is alleged that Memory was denied medical assistance by leaders of the apostolic sect who kept her at the shrine unti she died due preganancy complications.
There is now concern that the’ rapist ‘ husband should face the law, which many people are doubtful to, as the church members are staunch supporters of the ruling party, as the party drives out most of its support base from the cult , as this can be witnessed by elite ruling party members attendance to cult activities. This will be a litmus test to politics infested or interference judiciary system if the trial of the cult leaders will be undertaken or it will be a window dressing encounter at the courts.
“My Ministry has been alerted of a disturbing report of a 14 year old girl who died while giving birth at a shrine in Bocha, Marange which is making rounds on social media. I would like to inform the nation that we are working with relevant stakeholders “ said Minister of Gender and Small and Medium Enterprises Sithembiso Nyoni.
“ I am reliably informed that the culprits have been arrested. And the law is taking its course. The case of the Marange teenager reminds us all that child marriages is still in the communities”, said Nyoni.
Will the Marange Apostolic Sect debacle open a can of worms and expose the dark side of secret acts of deception happening behind the politics, church sect, law enforcement agencies and the rule of law.
