On March 17, ENCA reported that Zimbabwean police had arrested the leader of a religious cult and freed 251 children in the region of Harare.
The children were being used as forced labor on the cult’s farmland. The leader of the cult is Ishmael Chokurongerwa, who goes by Prophet Ishmael.
Most of the 251 children did not have birth certificates. 16 graves were found, with seven of them for infants.
Ishmael and his seven lieutenants have been charged with violating the Burial and Cremation Act and the Children’s Act, according to state media outlet H-Metro.
Police are continuing to investigate the site, with more charges likely, according to Reuters.
This is developing.
