Scandal-hit Zimbabwe churches urged to stem abuse of women

The Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) has called for moral uprightness among church leaders in the wake of allegations of sexual violence against women and corruption. EFZ, which represents approved members of evangelical and Pentecostal persuasion, said it was deeply concerned about the public perception of the church following recent allegations of corruption and abuse of women in the form of rape, sexual, spiritual and emotional violence. Law enforcement is called upon to take its course on corrupt religious leaders, individual actors, leaders of parastatals, (and) public and private institutions that perpetuate this pandemic, EFZ said in a statement issued Tuesday. A number of church leaders have been caught on the wrong side of the law on a number of occasions, the latest being independent church RMG End Time Message leader Robert Gumbura who was sentenced to 50 years over raping female followers and possessing pornographic material. Last December, the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe said it had reported at least 10 churches to the police on suspicions of sexual abuse of women. The association's president Johannes Ndanga said the surge in cases being reported to it showed that many women had been suffering in silence for some time. Other church leaders have been accused of being involved in adulterous affairs while others have allegedly duped people of their assets. About 70 percent of Zimbabweans are Christians, following mainstream and African indigenous churches.