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Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
Joseph Nemaramba, a twenty-one-year-old man who was held captive by his father for two years, could not hide his excitement when he got a surprise visit from Acting Chiefs Saurombe and Mutambara, as well as church leaders in Chimanimani last week on Saturday.
The delegation went to Birchenough Bridge where Joseph is staying with a relative to check on his recovery and offer their support, two months after they freed him from his father.
When Joseph was rescued from a room that he was held captive by his father, he was in a deplorable state – malnourished, dirty and covered in wounds.
Joseph could neither talk nor walk.
His limbs were crooked and he looked as if he had been starved for years.
Joseph, who is still recovering from the ordeal, has expressed gratitude after the traditional leaders’ stepped in to rescue him.
He said he felt hopeful and supported by the community leaders.
Joseph said he is recovering well and is now learning to walk, something that he could not do two months ago.
“I am now okay as you can see. I am receiving adequate medical treatment and physiotherapy. I can move my legs and hands without any pain and I can speak and eat without any difficulties. I am grateful to Acting Chief Saurombe for rescuing and sending me to hospital,” he said.
The chiefs and the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) delegation praised Joseph for his courage and resilience.
They also assured him of their continued support.
The fate of Joseph’s father, Namatai Nemaramba, a bishop under the Zion Sabbath Christian Church, is in the hands of ACCZ who are yet to table their verdict after hearing submissions from all the parties.
In an interview with The Weekender last week on Saturday, ACCZ chairperson, Bishop Divas Chakwenya said the umbrella body for the country’s apostolic churches has completed its investigations.
Bishop Chakwenya said he is glad that Joseph is recovering well due to the physiotherapy he is getting.
“We are happy with the progress Joseph has made. When he was rescued, he could barely move his body parts, but now he can move his legs and talk. It is only a matter of months before he can start walking again. We will continue monitoring his progress and make sure that he gets the adequate medical attention he needs.
“In a few days, we will be delivering judgement to Bishop Nemaramba. In reaching this judgement, we are using ACCZ’s constitution as well as the country’s supreme law, the Constitution,” he said.
Bishop Chakwenya said investigations revealed that Nemaramba locked his son inside the house for two years.
“In locking up his son, Nemaramba claims he feared that his relatives would kill and use him for rituals. He says his church members mistook this for rituals as they did not know what was happening behind closed doors.
“However, both the Constitutions of Zimbabwe and that of ACCZ do not recognise acts of witchcraft, which is why his case will be dealt with by the traditional leadership,” he said.
Bishop Chakwenya said while they work hand in hand with traditional leaders in dealing with the matter, they have the power to suspend or defrock the bishop.
“Only ACCZ has the power to suspend or defrock a bishop or deregister a church for violating standing rules. This is according to our constitution,” he said.
However, Nemaramba refused to entertain the media and referred us to the traditional leadership.
In an interview, Acting Chief Mutambara said their top priority is Joseph’s full recovery.
“For two years, he was denied his basic rights. We will continue dealing with the matter until the culprit is brought to book. What baffled us is that when we took Joseph to Mutambara Mission Hospital, Nemaramba went behind out backs and forced the discharge of his son from the hospital.
“He secretly took him to Birchenough Bridge where he is staying with a relative. He is yet to give us a satisfactory answer for his actions,” said Acting Chief Mutambara.
“We are there to fight for the rights of the man’s child. We will also continue monitoring Joseph until he is back on his feet,” said the traditional leader.
Online Reporter