Sect in Zimbabwe accused of hiding child graves under crops

Shocking reports from Zimbabwe. A religious sect hid more than 40 child graves under tomato beds. The police were alerted by, among others, the neighbors of the families belonging to this group. They noticed that their children were losing playmates every day.

Families belonging to the apostolic community in Hurungwe in Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe, secretly buried more than 40 children, and to erase the traces, turned the graves into beds of sweet potatoes and tomatoes, informed Celestino Dhege, head of the provincial health services.

The Zimbabwean health services stumbled upon the hidden burials while responding to reports that the region had been experiencing an epidemic of cholera, mumps, and measles for some time. At the same time, neighbors of the families belonging to the sect noticed that their children were losing playmates every day.

In a few days, five children between the ages of 1.5 years and 12 years disappeared from one household. Back in May, when the first cases of the epidemic appeared, one family lost seven children without informing anyone.

- Villagers saw new vegetable gardens and green beds every morning, unaware that under the fertile soil lay another dead child, who was denied medical help - said Dr. Dhege during last week's meeting with provincial authorities in Chinhoyi.

An investigation conducted by the head of provincial health services found that some members of the apostolic communities were hiding their sick children at home, denying them access to medical care. When they died, they were secretly buried at night, and tomatoes or potatoes were immediately planted on the graves.

- For them, a child's death is not as significant as it seems to us. They refuse vaccinations, treatment, and those who oppose them are expelled from the community. Recently, a 23-year-old mother was abandoned by her husband, disowned by her parents, and expelled from the church by the community because she sought medical help for her dying nine-year-old child, - said Dhege.

Local authorities have called on lawmakers to pass laws protecting children from parents who shun modern medicine.

- It is high time to apply punitive measures to deter potential offenders and protect the youngest - said Dhege.

These are not the only shocking reports about this sect.

In March of this year, the police reported that 56-year-old Ishmael Chokurongera, a self-proclaimed prophet who led a sect of over 1,000 members, was arrested. The farm where they lived was located about 34 kilometers northwest of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.

It turned out that together with other believers, 251 children lived there. 246 of them did not have birth certificates. The children "were used for various physical tasks for the sect leaders".

The man was arrested on charges of child molestation and forcing them to work.