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Baptism death saga: Teenager granted $30 bail

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A 17-YEAR-OLD boy, who is one of the three members of the Johane Masowe Echishanu accused of suffocating six children to death during a baptism ceremony in Sadza early this month, has been granted $30 bail pending trial and released into the custody of his father.

A 17-YEAR-OLD boy, who is one of the three members of the Johane Masowe Echishanu accused of suffocating six children to death during a baptism ceremony in Sadza early this month, has been granted $30 bail pending trial and released into the custody of his father.

BY CHARLES LAITON

The teenager (name withheld) had, through his lawyers Muringani Mandikumba and Partners, approached the High Court seeking bail pending trial, arguing he was also a victim of baptism when the tragedy occurred.

High Court judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze last week released the teenager, who is a Form 3 student at Chimowa Secondary School, and ordered him to reside at his homestead until finalisation of the matter.

In his bail statement, the teenager argued he never committed the alleged offence, but had simply been invited to be baptised and have some evil spirits exorcised from him.

He is being charged alongside self-proclaimed prophetess Maud Dzvuke (31) and Jane Ruvinga (22).

According to the State papers, on the morning of June 7, Dzvuke, Ruvinga and the teenager allegedly connived to take the children for cleansing baptism in Mutorahuku stream at Muriwo Village.

The State alleges Dzvuke was leading the group and she took her four children with her namely Chido (11), Patience Pfumbidza (9), Shamiso Pfumbidza (4) and Mercy Pfumbidza (2).

Ruvinga also took with her two other children, Tafadzwa (5) and Tinotenda Dzvuke (3).

Upon arrival at the stream, Dzvuke got into the water and baptised the children, starting with her own.

During the process, she submerged the children’s heads in the water one after the other, pressing their foreheads and pushing their heads into the water.

It is alleged the other three assisted by handing over the children to Dzvuke one after the other and when the children were being submerged into the water, they started losing consciousness, but the woman continued unperturbed.

The State alleges of the eight children baptised, six of them died as a result of asphyxia due to drowning, yet it was the duty of all the accused to ensure the safety of the children.