Self-proclaimed Apostolic prophet who kept 251 children on his property has been charged with exploiting minors.

Police said that Ishmael Chokurongerwa, 56, led a sect with more than 1,000 members in Harare.

The children were allegedly used for cheap labour. Unregistered graves, believed to be of infants, were also found.

Chokurongerwa was arrested on Tuesday “for criminal activities which include abuse of minors”.

He appeared alongside seven congregants before a magistrate’s court on Thursday.

All eight of them were charged with violating children’s rights and contravening burial and cremation laws.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police released a statement on Wednesday saying that the arrest followed a raid.

Officers discovered that 251 minors were found living on a farm run by Chokurongerwa about 34km (21 miles) north-west of the capital, Harare.

Some 246 out of the 251 children staying at the property had no birth certificates.

The children did not attend any official place of education, police said, and instead were doing manual work – “for the benefit of the sect’s leadership” – and “being taught life skills”.

-BBC

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