Religious sect leader arrested, 251 children rescued in Zimbabwe

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) – Police in Zimbabwe rescued 251 children from a farm belonging to an "apostolic" religious sect leader in Nyabira, 34 kilometers (21 miles) northwest of the capital Harare, who were being abused for cheap labor.

In a statement Wednesday, police said they found 251 children below the age of 18 years – all of the schoolgoing age who did not attend formal education.

It said they were being used to do manual work at the farm for the benefit of the religious sect’s leaders who claimed the children were being taught life skills.

Police said they arrested self-styled prophet Ishmael Chokurongerwa, 56, who leads the sect and five others during the raid on their shrine at the farm.

“At the shrine, 16 graves were found of which nine graves are for adults and seven graves for infants,” the police said, adding that all burials were conducted without prior registration with the authorities concerned.

At this stage, it is not yet known what caused the deaths, police said, adding they would release more details in due course as investigations unfold.

Local media H-Metro claims that Chokurongerwa's farm shrine is home to more than 1,000 people who are suspected to be abused.