Zimbabwe! The Hidden Face of Human Trafficking : The Silent Suffering of Zimbabwean Women, Zimbabwean family seeks justice for brother’s death linked to abuse at Christian camp, More than 2 years: Baby Princess yet to be buried, Churches demand justice against Chinese mine supervisor, Harare Magistrate Orders Arrest of Mama Vee Over E-Creator Testimony

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — For over 30 years, Edith Nyachuru has carried the weight of her brother’s unexplained death.

At 16, Guide Nyachuru’s life was cut short at a Christian camp in Zimbabwe in 1992. Guide was one of over 100 boys and young men abused by British barrister and lay preacher John Smyth at camps spanning Britain, Zimbabwe and South Africa in what became one of the Church of England’s darkest scandals.

It led to the resignation of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury last year.

Now, as the church prepares to install its first female Archbishop of Canterbury and some Zimbabwean victims pursue legal action in the U.K., the Nyachuru family hopes the church and justice system will finally bring answers.

“The struggle for justice is real,” said Edith. “The most painful thing is we as a family don’t know how he died, what kind of pain he endured.”

Her 87-year-old mother, Rachel, and six Zimbabwean men who allege physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual abuse by Smyth, initiated a legal claim this month.

The claim accuses the Church of England of negligence for its inaction when abuse was first uncovered decades ago. Their attorneys, U.K law firm Leigh Day, cite the St. Andrew the Great parish in Cambridge, where a vicar’s 1982 report found evidence of abuses by Smyth at Christian camps. They are demanding a “full apology,” access to church documents, compensation and an independent review.

A trail of abuse
Smyth ran Christian holiday camps for elite British schoolboys to groom them for leadership roles in church and society. He relocated to Zimbabwe in 1984, establishing similar camps there.

The 1982 report, compiled by then parish Vicar Mark Ruston in Cambridge, detailed beatings lasting “many years.” One victim could “feel the blood spattering on my legs.” Ruston described “bruised and scored buttocks” months after a beating, noting “suppressed masochistic sexual activity” and forced nakedness “to increase humility.”

Although Ruston’s report admitted the acts were criminal, police were not informed, a decision lawyers say enabled further abuse in Africa.

In Zimbabwe, alarmed parents approached lawyer David Coltart, who compiled a damning report in 1993.

Coltart described beatings, boys forbidden underwear, forced into nude night swims, Smyth leading a prayer naked and Smyth admitting to photographing naked boys “from shoulders up” for “publicity purposes.”

Chosen to become his school’s next head boy, Guide’s naked body was found in a swimming pool at one such camp. Smyth, who presided over the funeral, was later charged with culpable homicide in Zimbabwe, but moved to neighboring South Africa, where he died in 2018 aged 75.

Guide’s family says the death could have been avoided had the church acted earlier.

“The Church of England is responsible for this. If Smyth couldn’t work with children in the U.K., why would he work with children in Zimbabwe and South Africa?” said Edith from Bedford in southern England.

Church reckoning
An independent review commissioned by the Church of England last year accused the church of a coverup, saying Smyth was “out of sight and out of mind, a problem solved and exported to Africa.”

Welby, who was a camp dormitory officer in the 1970s and knew Smyth, said he was unaware of the abuses until 2013, soon after he became spiritual leader of the Anglican church.

He later wrote a personal letter of apology to Edith. Welby stepped down in November 2024, after the review found that he failed to tell police about Smyth’s abuse as soon as he became aware of it.

The Nyachuru family now places its hope in new Archbishop Sarah Mullally, who starts official duties in January, and has vowed to rebuild trust.

“I say being a woman and a mother, you know what we are going through,” Edith said. “Can you please look into this case that has been there for decades with urgency? We need closure.”

Mullally, a former nurse, has pledged to ensure “we are a church that not only prevents abuse but responds well when it is reported.”

Attorney Rebekah Read accused the church of missing “multiple opportunities” to stop Smyth. “Instead, it chose to protect its reputation,” she said. Her clients, she said, hope the church’s leadership transition “will signal a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability and justice for survivors.”

For the Nyachurus, whose only surviving reminder of a boy who dreamed of becoming an aircraft engineer is an old photograph in the family living room in Zimbabwe, remembrance has become a quiet ritual.

“We just use candles on his date of death,” Edith said. “We go to his grave, lay flowers, sweep the area. On his birthday, we do a low-key family get-together to keep his memory alive.”

When Nokutenda (26) finally held her passport again after nine long months, her hands trembled not from fear but from the overwhelming weight of freedom.

Getting a well-paying job as a waiter at a hotel in Dubai had been dream come true.

Considering the high rate of unemployment in Zimbabwe, she hoped she would finally be able to provide for herself and her mother.

The day she left the country,the airport buzzed with families saying their goodbyes, suitcases rolling across the floor, and the scent of anticipation thick in the air. Nokutenda clutched her passport like a lifeline, her heart beating fast as she imagined a new life in Dubai. She did not know then that the journey ahead would lead her far from the promises she had been sold and even further from freedom.

“Back in 2022, I went to the airport jovial, excited for the once in a lifetime opportunity to finally leave the country for greener pastures. All my travelling costs were catered for by this company. I only had to pay 200 US dollars for my medical examinations,” she said.

Noku met the agent who was supposed to secure a job for her through a trusted neighbour. It was easy to trust her because they already knew each other. The neighbour gave her the contacts of a Nigerian man, the agent who later cemented all the job requirements.

Promised a salary of US$1,400, she could not resist the offer. She also did not tell friends and extended family about the intended migration because that is basically what many other Zimbabweans do before travelling, they move in secret until it is done.

Over the past two decades, Zimbabwe has experienced macroeconomic challenges and witnessed multiple and complex migration patterns characterised by high levels of cross border mobility, brain drain, and human trafficking.

The International Organization for Migration estimates that the Zimbabwean diaspora is roughly three million individuals, with a huge number in South Africa and the United Kingdom due to economic collapse and unemployment. Many migrate seeking better livelihoods, education, and stability.

Noku’s documentation was done for her by the Nigerian agent, and to her surprise, it was really quick, it took less than two days and her visa was sent to her. However, the problem began when she landed in Oman instead of Dubai.

“I received my visa really quickly, which I thought was for Dubai. However, it was written in Arabic. I could only see one word, Mascat, and I thought this was the city I was going to work in, in Dubai. It only clicked that we were tricked when we arrived in Oman and found out there was no hotel. I had been brought to work as a maid at a three storey house with nearly 40 family members, and I was the only maid.”

“My passport was taken on arrival. That is the moment I realised I had been misled. I was injected with some medicine I do not know to this day. I was given to my new master, who informed me that I owed her all the money she used for my travel expenses. Because of that, I was not going to get any pay for two years. I had to start wearing covering clothes. I started working like a donkey, cleaning, washing, carrying heavy stuff like flour to the third floor with no rest. I got really sick but received no medical attention.”

Human trafficking in Zimbabwe manifests in various ways, including through fraudulent job offers. Traffickers often entice victims with international employment opportunities, promising salaries from US$800 to US$1,500 per month for domestic work in countries such as Oman and Kuwait. However, upon arrival, many women realise they have been trapped by human trafficking syndicates.

In 2022, the Zimbabwean government learnt that about 200 of its female citizens had been trafficked after falling prey to these schemes. Efforts were made to assist the women, but only 105 were rescued and repatriated home.

One of the women who was also misled through a job offer is 34 year old Charity. She was approached by a lady through an advert she saw on social media and was assured she had gotten a decent role as a domestic worker in Oman, which would reward her US$800 every month.

“I knew this was a domestic work job in Oman, but I did not know the horrors that would unfold. All I wanted was to take care of my children back home, but during the nine months I was there, I did not receive any payment. It was just painful work, including taking care of domestic animals like cattle and goats,” she said.

“I rarely had anything to eat, I would eat leftovers. I was overworked, and they told me they could not pay me because I had to repay them for all the costs they covered. I slept in a tiny isolated room at the back of the house. All the seven months I spent there were just torture, and I came back with nothing.”

Charity escaped the house by jumping over a huge durawall when she heard on social media that a Zimbabwean envoy was in the country to rescue enslaved women in Oman.

The U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report for Zimbabwe states that in 2025, Zimbabwe was again placed on the Tier 2 Watch List, indicating that while the country has taken some steps to address the issue, it has not shown significant progress compared to previous years. This suggests that either the problem remains at similar levels or that reported cases have not dropped.

Many trafficking cases go unreported or undetected, especially those involving undocumented migration, domestic servitude, or remote rural areas.

Noku could not escape her captors. When they heard of a Zimbabwean envoy that had come to rescue enslaved women, they moved her to another neighbouring country where their relatives stayed so that she could not run away. She only managed to get away when she lied that her mother had passed on.

“I had to fake mourning so they could let me go. I cried like I had never done before, refused to eat or do anything. Then they said they would release me on the condition that my family back home would buy the plane tickets, including return tickets, so they would be assured I would return. My mother had to sell a herd of cattle for my return. I came back with nothing. It was just my frail body and a purse when I arrived at Robert Mugabe Airport after working nine good months without any pay. I was hurt but relieved to be back home,” she said.

Her story is not just a tragedy, it is a call for governments to strengthen protections so no one else disappears into silence.
Zimbabwe’s Trafficking in Persons Act [Chapter 9:25] defines human trafficking as the recruitment, transport, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people through force, threats, deception, abuse of power or payments for exploitation. It applies to both adults and children, within or outside the country, and also criminalises related acts like facilitating trafficking or using false travel documents.

Tadiwa Marengo, the Programmes Coordinator at the Centre for Combating Human Trafficking, said addressing human trafficking in Zimbabwe requires a multi-faceted approach that involves strengthening laws like the Anti Trafficking in Persons Act of 2014.

“To start, the Zimbabwean government should review and update existing laws to ensure they are comprehensive and aligned with international standards, while also increasing penalties for traffickers. Law enforcement agencies should be trained and resourced to effectively identify and prosecute cases,” he said.

“Public awareness campaigns should educate communities about the risks of human trafficking, particularly targeting vulnerable groups. Collaboration with media outlets can also help spread information about human trafficking and its consequences. Furthermore, identifying and supporting high risk groups, such as those in poverty or with limited education, is crucial. Providing economic opportunities through vocational training, job placement services, and empowerment programs can reduce vulnerability.”

More women continue to fall prey to traffickers, disappearing into foreign households where exploitation goes unnoticed and unreported.

THE Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has called on the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the fatal shooting of a Mutoko villager by a Chinese mine security supervisor, condemning the incident as part of a “growing pattern of human rights abuses”.

The call follows the October 9 death of Fungai Nhau, who was allegedly shot and killed by Quijun Yu, a security supervisor for Zhuhe Investments in Mashonaland East province.

Quijun appeared at the Mutoko Magistrates Court last Friday, where he was denied bail and remanded in custody.

A traditional court presided over by Chief Nechombo facilitated a compensation agreement between the mining company and the deceased’s family.

The court ordered Zhuhe Investments to pay 15 cattle, which was settled as a cash equivalent of US$6 500.

However, the compensation deal has been widely criticised by watchdog groups as an inhumane attempt to circumvent the formal justice system.

In a statement, ZCC urged all stakeholders to prioritise human rights and ethical practices.

“We call upon the Zimbabwe Republic Police to conduct a thorough, impartial and expedited investigation into this matter, leaving no stone unturned,” ZCC said.

“Justice must prevail and those responsible must be held accountable to the full extent of the law, regardless of nationality or position.”

The church body condemned the “use of lethal force and disregard for human life”, adding that “no economic activity should ever be pursued at the cost of human dignity or the sanctity of life.”

ZCC highlighted an “escalating pattern of human rights abuses” in mining operations owned by Chinese investors, citing reports of harassment and unsafe working conditions for Zimbabwean employees.

“These tensions not only erode community trust but also threaten social harmony and the dignity of Zimbabwean citizens,” the statement read.

The council called on the government to ensure commitments made by the Chinese embassy translate to “enforceable obligations on the ground”, and urged all Chinese companies to align their operations with both Zimbabwean law and the highest ethical standards.

Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Harare has issued a reminder to its citizens to strictly adhere to Zimbabwean legal and regulatory frameworks, as they conduct business.

…When will there be closure to this case?

…Body still in mortuary

…Body now mutilating

It has now been over two years since Princess Shoko was killed, and she has yet to be buried.

The suspects, John Zvivi (36) and Alister Sibanda (35), are currently in custody.

This couple is alleged to be the chief suspects in the murder of the little girl.

DNA tests conducted during the investigation revealed negative results, indicating that the child was a boy, not a girl.

The couple is accused of killing their four-year-old niece in 2023 before fleeing to South Africa.

John and Alister were brought back into the country on March 27, 2025, after their story circulated on social media, which prompted their arrest and eventual extradition.

They appeared in court on Saturday, March 30, before Harare magistrate Isheunesu Matova, who remanded them in custody and advised them to approach the High Court for bail.

The couple returned to court on April 11, pending their indictment.

The tragic events date back to April 2023, when the deceased, Princess Shoko, and her six-year-old sister, Susan Mandaza, were left in the care of Sibanda and her husband in Zvimba.

The children’s mother, Nomsa Sibanda, is the sister of Lister. When Nomsa returned to South Africa, she left the children in the care of Zvivi and her sister, Lister.

Upon their appearance in court on March 30, Prosecutor Takudzwa Jambawu informed the court that the couple began to abuse the two children, subjecting them to assaults and depriving them of food.

In July 2023, the abuse took a deadly turn when Princess Shoko succumbed to injuries inflicted upon her, passing away on July 23, 2023.

In a bid to conceal their crime, Zvivi and Sibanda allegedly placed the child’s remains in a sack and stashed it in the boot of a red Honda Fit with Botswana number plates.

The couple then drove to Kuwadzana Extension, where they dumped the body in a stream.

The court heard how the accused informed Nomsa Sibanda of her daughter’s death but failed to provide a satisfactory explanation.

Troubled by their vague account, Nomsa returned to Zimbabwe and, on August 1, 2023, reported her daughter as missing to the ZRP Dzivarasekwa.

The very next day, the body of Princess Shoko was discovered in the Dzivarasekwa stream.

Nomsa identified the remains of her daughter, and the body was taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

While a pathologist conducted the examination, the cause of death was inconclusive as toxicology results were still pending.

Fearing arrest, the couple fled to South Africa. However, their alleged crime came to light after the story gained widespread attention on social media.

Authorities in South Africa apprehended the couple, and after months of legal proceedings, they were extradited to Zimbabwe to face justice.

A Harare magistrate has issued an arrest warrant for socialite Admire Mushambi, popularly known as Mama Vee, after he failed to appear in court to testify in the ongoing E-Creator Ponzi scheme trial that defrauded thousands of Zimbabweans.

Magistrate Francis Mapfumo made the ruling after Mushambi did not show up in court during the testimony of fellow socialite Tarisai “Madam Boss” Chikocho, who implicated him in the scandal.

Chikocho told the court that Mushambi was the one who introduced her to the Chinese nationals accused of running the elaborate scam — Jao Zhao Jiatong and William Chui — who are alleged to have masterminded the multimillion-dollar pyramid scheme.

According to the State, the accused lured members of the public to invest in a fake online platform that promised unrealistic returns.

“Jiatong and Chui established E-Creator with the intention of defrauding unsuspecting investors,” prosecutors said. “They falsely claimed people would earn massive profits, yet the platform had no real investment operations.”

Court documents reveal that victims were directed to send money through various EcoCash numbers allegedly linked to the accused. The funds — exceeding US$250,000 — were later withdrawn and converted into cryptocurrency.

The prosecution further alleged that a man only identified as Billy was later brought in to assist in processing the transactions, while EcoCash agent Blessing Julias handled some of the withdrawals.

During her testimony, Chikocho recounted how Mushambi approached her in June 2023, saying the accused wanted her to help promote their “investment platform.”

“They said it was a genuine investment company and offered to pay me for advertising. I went with my manager, Fanwell Masunugure, to their offices at Joina City, where we met them. That same day, I advertised E-Creator on my Facebook page and received US$700 for the post,” she said.

Chikocho also admitted she personally invested US$100 into the scheme and persuaded her husband and relatives to join.

The E-Creator scandal, which collapsed last year, left thousands of investors counting their losses. With Mushambi now on the run, the case has taken a dramatic twist as the court seeks to uncover who played what role in promoting the fraudulent operation.