Of sects and doomsday cults: Who will save us from Religious fanaticism

By Lloyd Takawira 

Religious fanaticism has been a pervasive issue in many societies, with church leaders often being viewed as gods and abusing their congregants.

 Recent events in Zimbabwe have shed light on the extent of this problem, with the arrest of Madzibaba Ishmael for abusing his congregants. 

Over the past week the police uncover unregistered graves and cases of abuse at cult leader Madzibaba Ishmael’s farm in Nyabira. 

Interestingly, Madzibaba Ishmael Chokurongerwa says his only crime is to have a good heart to take care of about 120 families housed at his Plot 6, Lily Farm, in Nyabira. Most of Madzibaba Ishmael’s followers dismissed claims they were living in captivity, saying they voluntarily followed their leader.

In 2015, Madzibaba Ishmael was sentenced to a five-year jail term for leading an attack on police officers, journalists and members of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe at his Budiriro shrine in 2014. 

He said: 

We do not attack people as reported by people who are fighting us. Our children, as well as our wives, are not comfortable seeing people holding guns. The team was led to a cemetery where shallow graves were dug around an anthill.

Similar allegations have been laid against prominent and charismatic church leaders such as Magaya, Makandiwa, and Sanyangore to name a few. The powerful man of cloth have been accused of abusing their congregants, taking advantage of their positions of power to manipulate and exploit vulnerable individuals.These leaders are often seen as infallible and unquestionable, with their followers believing that they have a direct line to God. 

Recently the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) says it is still pursuing a case in which PHD Ministries leader, Walter Magaya, is being accused of allegedly sexually abusing women despite indications that some of the witnesses have developed cold feet. According to the NewZimbabwe.com story on 22 October 2022, Magaya is accused of raping his female congregant in August 2015 at one of his houses in Mt Pleasant. The State alleges he went on to force the victim to terminate her pregnancy after the alleged abuse before buying her silence with $ 100,000.

Dear reader, you may recall another disturbing case in 2016, where one Prophet Sanyangore, is said to have made his congregants drink urine as a form of "holy water". The controversial man of cloth admitted  to have made his congregants drink raw sewage while clearing ground at his church stand along Seke Road. Speaking to H-Metro, the preacher said it was just a display of faith that everything is possible through the power of the Lord."It was just a demonstration of faith. We were far away from where we could get water and I just had to sprinkle salt and pray for the water.

A recent journal titled, "Religion, Women, and Girls’ Rights in Zimbabwe: the Case  of Zimbabwe’s Johanne Marange Apostolic Church” by Cornelius Dudzai, Kwashirai Zvokuomba Tarisai Gracious Mboko  Published 12 October 2023, revealed  that women and girls’ rights are compromised in religious settings and the issue goes on unreported. 

The research established that the church doctrine within the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church provides a conducive environment for the abuse of women and the girl child under the guise of 'sacredness' of the religious sect. This has been and is still going on unchecked. The study concluded that abuse cases through forced and teen marriages to older men are facilitated by both adult men and women and is highly safeguarded within religious cultism. 

This kind of extreme behaviour is not isolated to Zimbabwe, with similar cases of abuse and manipulation being reported in other countries as well.

KENYA

 In Kenya, sect leader Mackenzie was arrested for his involvement in a cult that engaged in violent and harmful practices. No fewer than 109 men, women and children are known to have died after a Kenyan charismatic church pastor encouraged his followers to fast to death to “meet Jesus” in the afterlife. Bodies of the dead were recovered from numerous mass graves on a farm at Shakahola, a village on Kenya’s south-east coast, where Pastor Paul Mackenzie had his Good News International Church. Autopsies revealed that most had starved to death. But a small number, some children, had been strangled or suffocated to death. Mackenzie now faces charges over the deaths. 

NIGERIA

In Nigeria, there have been numerous cases of extreme sect leaders who have been jailed for their abusive practices. These leaders often prey on the vulnerable and desperate, promising salvation and healing in exchange for blind obedience and financial contributions. The cycle of abuse perpetuated by these individuals is a stark reminder of the dangers of religious fanaticism.

Recently, the BBC Africa Eye investigation reveals abuse and torture by megachurch leader in Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua. The BBC Africa Eye, alleged that it has uncovered evidence of widespread abuse and torture by the founder of one of the world’s biggest Christian evangelical churches.  The allegations of abuse in a secretive Nigerian compound span almost 30 years.

What needs to be done to prevent this from happening again?

Dear reader, it is crucial that we continue to shine a light on these abuses and hold church leaders accountable for their actions. The exploitation of vulnerable individuals in the name of religion is a grave injustice that must be addressed.

1. By speaking out against religious fanaticism and demanding transparency and accountability from church leaders, we can work towards creating a safer and more just society for all.

1. In each case, the victims are exposed to mind control by charismatic religious preachers. The only difference is in the mode and motive for death in the name of the chosen cause.  
2. Every person has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief, and opinion.
3. The journal by Cornelius  etal (2024),  recommends that the government and non-state actors need to enhance child protection services and programmes in religious settings for the purpose of protecting and removing the vulnerabilities of girls within the church by prosecuting perpetrators.
4. African governments needs an honest discussion about how regulations can safeguard the right, to prevent fake religious leaders from misusing it. 
5. Regulate Religious Organizations: The government should regulate the activities of religious organizations to prevent the rise of dangerous doomsday cults. This can include setting guidelines for registration and monitoring their activities.
6. Address Socio-economic Issues: Poverty and inequality can make individuals more vulnerable to extremist ideologies. The government should address these issues and provide opportunities for employment and economic stability.
7. Strengthen Mental Health Services: Some individuals may be drawn to doomsday cults due to mental health issues. The government should provide accessible and adequate mental health services to prevent and address such cases.
8. Provide Social Support: The government should provide social support for vulnerable individuals who may be targeted by doomsday cults. This can include providing access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.