FIVE CHILDREN ABANDON DAD (98), ACCUSE HIM OF KILLING OTHER KIDS
A 98-YEAR-OLD man has been abandoned by his children and is now being taken care of by his 23-year-old grandchild.
His kids accuse him of allegedly killing their brothers and sisters.
Shereni Dzvokora, of Mashava, bore 10 children and five of them have died.
His wife is also late.
His plight was exposed through a video recorded by a neighbour in which he was crying as he bemoaned his plight.
H-Metro tracked down Dzvokora and he told us:
“I looked after my children but no one wants to look after me.
“I am being looked after by my muzukuru, my children don’t want to come and see me.
“The other child is in Bikita, the other one in Mberengwa. Vandirasa, ndiri kuchengetwa nemwana wemwana wangu musikana akashaika.
“He works hard to look after me and, at times, zvinomuomera. Vana vacho havatode and even vasikana vasara havatode.”
He added:
“Ndikanyanya kufunga ndinochema but hapana zvandingaite. I used to move around asking for help, especially for food but, now, I am too old.
“They don’t come to see me and I don’t know the reason asi Mwari ndiye anoziva.
“I have many girls, the only son who used to look after me died.”
His grandchild, Request, who is looking after him, said:
“They accuse him of killing his children yet I know how my mother died.
“There were 10 and only five are left.
“I am appealing to the well-wishers to assist in helping my sekuru.
“He is old and he needs help.”
A neighbour, who has also been helping him, said:
“Vana vavo vakashaika nekuda kwezvirwere and, during that time, they was no proper medicine.
“We haven’t got information yekuti vane zvavakabata baba ava but ivo varikungonenera baba vavo, hatisati tanzwa, hatisati tazviona.
Mathew Masinge
CULT leader, Madzibaba Ishmael Chokurongerwa, will spend more time in remand prison after a magistrate ruled that his release could provoke a huge public outcry.
His hopes for freedom were shattered yesterday after he was denied bail.
Seven of his followers, who are being charged with him, were also denied bail.
Madzibaba Ishmael and his accomplices are facing charges of Contravening Section 3 (1) and (2) of the Burial and Cremation Act 5:03 and Section 7(1) and (5) of the Children’s Act 5:06.
His co-accused are Takavengwa Gwenzi (55), Siribiniyo Chikunire (53), Wonder Kabaya (41), Devlodge Katsande (47), Zebediah Sigudu (49), Aaron Chokurongerwa (47) and Shingirai
Ngavafume (42).
The State said sometime in November last year, Madzibaba Ishmael and his accomplices conducted burial for Hazel Chikunhire and Winlet Kabaya, without a burial order issued, in violation of the Act.
It is also the State’s case that since 2019, Madzibaba Ishmael and others neglected, abandoned and exposed their children to various ailments, causing unnecessary suffering to the kids, whose health was heavily affected.
Police have rescued 251 children, below the age of 18, who were used as forced labour to benefit Madzibaba Ishmael at his plot 6, Lily Farm in Nyabira.
Of the 251 children, 246 kids had no birth certificates.
At least, 16 illegal graves, seven of them for infants, have been found.
More charges emanating from the abuse are likely to be levelled against the sect’s leadership after police announced that investigations were still going on.
Madzibaba Ishmael has now engaged the services of Harare lawyer Purity Chakangaise.
However, Norton Magistrate Christine Nyandoro had already prepared her ruling, after a bail application, last Thursday.
The magistrate had proceeded to hear the bail application after Madzibaba Ishmael, and his accomplices, indicated that they did not require any legal representation.
In denying bail, Magistrate Nyandoro said the cult leader’s release could cause a public outcry.
Magistrate Nyandoro said the State managed to place compelling reasons before her, including that the suspects have influence and will interfere with State witnesses.
The matter was remanded to April 4 for trial.
Through their lawyer, Madzibaba Ishmael and his accomplices indicated they will appeal against the magistrate’s decision at the High Court.
Chikangaise said she had little to do since the magistrate had already ruled but feels they have a strong case against the State.
She placed the State on notice that the matter must proceed to trial on April 4, failure to which they will apply for refusal of further remand.