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Arron Nyamayaro
MADZIBABA Ishmael’s female followers abandoned the shrine on Friday as they fled from authorities amid fears they would be questioned over the early child marriages at the compound in Nyabira.
Police, accompanied by Nyabira Rural District and Social Welfare officials, visited Lily Farm in Nyabira for the exhumation of the body of a child.
The child was buried without the knowledge of its mother, Memory Mukanairi.
They were being led by some of the young women, who were removed from Madzibaba Ishmael’s shrine by police last month.
The young women were removed from the farm for investigations and medical examinations.
On Friday, scores of Madzibaba Ishmael’s female followers fled from the shrine ahead of the police visit.
“We never saw anyone at various homes we visited.
“We never saw any woman although they claim that their wives do not go for work.
“I am sure they ran away after spotting police vehicles coming to the farm,” said one of the officials who visited the farm.
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission officials were also on the ground.
Commission chief executive, Virginia Muwanigwa, told H-Metro that their presence at the exhumation was in-line with their mandate of implementing gender equality.
“We are at the shrine to see what exactly is happening in terms of gender equality and see the community set up and how they are living,” said Commissioner Muwanigwa.
Only men were at the farm and none of them was willing to disclose the whereabouts of their wives.
Victims of sexual abuse were interviewed by the police as they continue with their investigations amid allegations of rampant sexual abuse at the shrine they named “Canaan”.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter