Moffat Mungazi
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
IN a significant move, Johane Marange Apostolic Church leader, Mutumwa Nimrod Taguta, has joined forces with traditional leaders in Manicaland to tackle sexual abuse offences against minors, including ending child marriages within the apostolic sect.
As the High Priest of the church, whose influence extends across various communities across the globe, Mutumwa Nimrod’s latest efforts are particularly crucial, given the church’s substantial presence in Manicaland.
The church commands a large following in Marange, Chipinge, Chimanimani, Nyanga, Buhera and Makoni districts, making this collaborative initiative a vital step towards addressing these critical issues.
The Johane Marange Apostolic Church is a highly influential religious institution in Zimbabwe, with well-documented practices and beliefs that have sparked intense debate and research; especially its church’s stance on family planning and child marriages.
Against this backdrop, the country’s renewed fight against child marriages and sexual offences under the NotInMyVillage campaign has zeroed in on such harmful and primitive traditional and religious practices.
Following the launch in Mutare, and inception of pilot projects in Mutasa and Chipinge, the campaign is now sensitising traditional leaders, including village heads, headmen, and chiefs.
The next phase will engage communities of all ages in dialogues addressing pressing issues of HIV transmission, Gender-Based Violence, non-communicable diseases, drug and substance abuse, child marriages, early pregnancies, and school dropouts.
Speaking during the NotInMyVillage campaign engagement meeting held at Hauna Business Centre in Honde Valley on Tuesday, with more than 250 traditional leaders from Mutasa in attendance, Senator Chief James Mutasa, revealed that he had a candid meeting with Mutumwa Nimrod, during which he expressed commitment to ending child marriages within his church.
“We will work tirelessly as traditional leaders to eradicate child marriages. Mutumwa Nimrod was unequivocal — anyone found guilty of child marriage or engaging in sexual relations with minors under the age of 18 will face the consequences. It is against the law and criminal.
“As traditional leaders, we must clearly communicate this message to our subjects, and ensure that it is repeatedly emphasised during community meetings and church gatherings. We are tired of some apostolic congregants hiding behind their churches’ practices to justify the sexual abuse of minor girls. But now, the tide has turned. Let us not hear anyone saying I was never forewarned,” said Senator Chief Mutasa.
Repeated efforts to get a comment from Johane Marange Church spokesperson, Mr Nyasha Marange were fruitless at the time of going to print as his cellphone was not reachable.
Senator Chief Mutasa issued a stern warning to perpetrators of incest, stating that it is a criminal offence in Zimbabwe.
“Incest is unacceptable and despicable, both legally and culturally in Zimbabwe. No one can marry or engage in sexual relations with a family member. This will not be tolerated in our communities,” he said, urging headmen and village heads to play a crucial role in exposing cases of child sexual abuse and child marriages.
“As custodians of community well-being, you must take action against the perpetrators. Failure to do so will render you liable. Investigate these cases, report them, and let us bring perpetrators to justice,” he said.
Addressing the same traditional leaders, National Aids Council (NAC) Manicaland provincial manager, Mr Artwel Shiridzinomwa emphasised the importance of engaging men and boys in the fight against sexual abuse.
“As traditional leaders, now is the time to implement the lessons learnt today in your villages. We expect profound impact from this engagement. It is no longer business as usual,” said Mr Shiridzinomwa, warning that traditional leaders who condone child marriages will not be tolerated.
“We expect you to maintain order in your communities, serving as both watchdogs and mediators,” he said.
Mr Shiridzinomwa said reducing child marriages and sexual abuse of minors will free up resources for other developmental needs, including traditional leaders’ allowances.
“The matrix is simple, when we have less of child marriages and sexual abuse of young women as a nation, we will have resources that are being channelled fighting that scourge being directed towards other development needs, including your allowances as traditional leaders,” he said.
The comprehensive HIV intervention programme, implemented by the Young People’s Network for Health and Wellness in partnership with NAC, targets traditional and community leaders in the fight against sexual abuse of adolescent girls and young women.
The NotInMyVillage campaign was launched in Manicaland Province last month, with pilot implementations in Mutare and Chipinge districts.
The campaign will eventually be rolled out across all districts in the province.
Online Reporter