Online Reporter
MADZIBABA Ishmael now faces, at least 15 years in jail, after the Apostolic Sect leader was convicted of raping and impregnating a 13-year-old girl despite spirited attempts by the victim to help him escape the jaws of justice.
Harare regional magistrate Estere Chivasa found Madzibaba Ishmael guilty in the latest chapter to the drama which started with a police raid at his farm in Nyabira on March 13 last year.
All the three complainants said they had no links, whatsoever, with Madzibaba Ishmael but DNA helped the State to secure conviction.
The DNA tests were conducted by the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and conclusively proved that Madzibaba Ishmael fathered the three children born to the complainants.
Despite the scientific evidence, Madzibaba Ishmael argued that the DNA results were tainted and inadmissible.
He denied all allegations of rape, claiming the complainants had not voluntarily reported the incidents to the police. The prosecution argued that Madzibaba Ishmael abused his position as a trusted religious leader to exploit and rape young congregants under the guise of religious authority.
Initially, he was being charged with three counts of rape and was convicted on one charge after the court found that the other two complainants were not minors as had been previously claimed.
He was acquitted of the charges related to the ill-treatment of minors and breaching the Burial and Cremation Act.
The magistrate said while the complainants denied any links with Madzibaba Ishmael, there was DNA evidence proving otherwise.
She said the complainants even wondered why he was arrested and why they were called to come to court to testify.
They all said they are not aware of his position at church since there are a lot of congregants at the church.
They all denied having sexual intercourse with Madzibaba Ishmael but there is scientific proof (DNA paternity test results providing proof beyond reasonable doubt that the accused engaged in sexual intercourse with them and bore children.
We exclusively broke the story of the police raid and Madzibaba Ishmael’s arrest and, as a newspaper, we played a leading role in the coverage of his case.
We felt that it was our responsibility as a newspaper to cast a spotlight on what Madzibaba Ishmael was doing and to ensure that we kept alive the interest of the nation in the story.
We are happy that he has been convicted and we are hopeful that he will get the punishment that he deserves.
Such people, who abuse their power to destroy the lives of young girls through sexual exploitation, have no place in our society.
They believe that because they wield so much power, they can do as they please, including raping teenage girls and impregnating them.
Madzibaba Ishamel created an oppressive environment, in which the followers were stripped of their right and ability to exercise freedom of choice and were treated as slaves.
One key witness even said he created religious structures where congregants were held as hostages.
He has got what he deserves.
