Police officers, armed with rifles, tear gas and accompanied by sniffer dogs, carried out a stunning raid on Madzbaba Ismail Chukurungirwa’s farm in Nyabira in the early hours of yesterday leading to his arrest.
Dozens of police officers raided the compound, which was housing more than 1,000 people and was described as a cult where the majority of people were being abused.
Residents of the complex woke up around four in the morning.
They led police officers to the Madzbaba Ismail shrine where they were interviewed about concerns raised about families in the complex.
Those who live in the complex describe it as their promised land.
The police were accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Local Government. Public Works and National Housing, Nyabira Rural District Council, Office of the Registrar-General and Department of Social Welfare.
Dozens of children in the complex were divided into different groups according to their ages.
Almost all of the children said they did not have birth certificates and did not go to school because they were not allowed to.
It soon became clear that the children were being taught to live lives different from those lived by millions of children across the country.
Health, Victims and Social Welfare officials took the time to interview various women and children about allegations of abuse at the complex, and they all said they were not aware of such abuse and had never been subjected to any form of abuse.
Most of Madzibaba Ismail’s followers dismissed concerns that they were living in captivity and said they were there of their own free will as followers of Madzibaba Ismail.
Their leader is an ex-convict.
Madzibaba Ismail assured the police officers of their safety at the shrine and appealed to them to lay down their weapons for the sake of the children.
“We do not attack people as reported by the people fighting us,” said Madzbaba Ismail, who has gotten into trouble in the past for attacking police officers.
“Or the children, as well as our wives, are uncomfortable seeing people with guns.
“Don’t be afraid of what happened that year in Buderero.
“Our angels are the ones who fought some of your officers, not us.
“We preach peace here and we are a peaceful church.
“We want to slaughter a cow so that it can eat while watching our projects that our men are implementing to earn a living,” Madzbaba Ismail said.
The team was taken to a cemetery where shallow graves had been dug around an anthill.
Madzbaba Ismail said he was not aware of women’s and children’s rights.
He was taken to Nyabira Police Station and then to Norton Police Station where he was arrested along with four other members of his church. h metro
