Madzibaba Ishmael, accomplices in bid to block visit to their farm

Prosper Dembedza

Herald Correspondent

The trial for apostolic sect leader, Madzibaba Ishmael Chokurongerwa and his seven accomplices continued yesterday at the Norton Magistrates Court with the State applying for permission to visit the farm to see the graves of those who were buried there without burial orders.
Chokurongerwa (54), Takavengwa Gwenzi (55), Siribiniyo Chikunhire (53), Wonder Kabaya (41), Devlodge Katsande (48), Zebedia Sigudu (49), Aaron Chokurongerwa (47) and Shingirai Ngavafume (42), all from Lily Farm in Nyabira, are facing three counts of ill-treating children, conducting a burial without a burial order and failing to give notice of the birth and death of a person.

The State, led by Mr Tafara Chirambira, applied to lead its last witness in loco (at the farm), but the defence opposed the application.

The matter was deferred to August 27 for a ruling on the application.

When the trial kicked off last month, Chokurongerwa and his accomplices pleaded not guilty.

They denied conducting a burial ceremony without the knowledge of authorities.

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In their defence, the accused submitted that they did not have a guardian obligation on the minors, hence it was not their duty to take care of them.

They argued that none of the alleged victims nor their parents had reported to the police, hence the State could not cry more than the bereaved.

However, an officer from the Births and Deaths Registration Department, Mr Farai Gatusa testified that when his team visited the farm in March, Madzibaba Ishmael stopped them from performing their duties.

He said they saw some graves and discovered that 48 children did not have birth certificates.

Mr Gatusa said the said children’s birth certificates were only obtained in June 2024 after their visit to the farm.

He went on to question the authenticity of the birth certificates.

Village head Mr Nzwanai Musonza revealed that the suspects would occasionally call him to officiate at funerals, adding that he thought that they would have notified authorities.