Beitbridge Bishop Jailed 10 Years for Murder After Fatal ‘Exorcism’ Ritual

BEITBRIDGE – A Beitbridge church leader has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after the death of a woman who was chained, stripped naked, and severely beaten during what was described as a demon-casting ritual. The Bulawayo High Court convicted Bishop Gomori of the Damasko Zion Christian Church of murder following the death of a female congregant during an exorcism session conducted in March 2023.

Handing down a sentence on Monday, Justice Ngoni Nduna condemned the church practice, describing it as unlawful and incompatible with modern legal and human rights standards.

"The offender's defence that it was a church practice to beat up congregants to cast out demons, and that when the deceased joined his church, she and her husband consented to such a practice, does not hold water and is not lawful," Justice Nduna said. "The practice is archaic and unlawful."

Court proceedings revealed that the deceased and her husband, Fortunate Mukwayi, attended a church service at the Damasko Zion Christian Church on March 6, 2023.

According to evidence presented by Chief Director of Prosecutions Justin Uladi, two male congregants allegedly restrained the couple with chains after church leaders accused them of being possessed by demons. The pair reportedly spent the night confined in a room while chained. The following morning, they were taken to the Limpopo River, where they were immersed in water as part of what church leaders described as a baptism and exorcism ceremony.

After returning to the church premises, the couple was placed in a room where Bishop Gomori allegedly assaulted them using a leather whip. Uladi told the court that the bishop stripped the woman naked before repeatedly whipping her across her body while also assaulting her husband.

"The deceased died without dignity as she was stripped naked and severely thrashed in front of male congregants," Uladi told the court.

Court testimony indicated that both victims eventually lost consciousness during the assault.

The court heard that Gomori left the church premises while the couple remained unconscious. A church member later discovered the woman dead and alerted authorities.

Police subsequently launched investigations, leading to Gomori's arrest and prosecution.

Giving evidence before the court, Mukwayi described the events that led to his wife's death.

He said church pastor Philip Banga interrupted a prayer session and instructed congregants to restrain the couple.

"Banga ordered two male congregants to tie us with a chain and claimed we were possessed by demons," Mukwayi testified. "On the following day, we were taken to the Limpopo River and immersed in water, saying they were casting out demons. "We were then taken back to the church where Gomori started to assault us until we fell unconscious, resulting in my wife's death."

In aggravation, prosecutors urged the court to impose a custodial sentence to deter similar practices in religious institutions. Uladi argued that a non-custodial sentence would undermine the seriousness of the offence and fail to protect vulnerable congregants. The High Court agreed, imposing a 10-year prison sentence and emphasising that religious beliefs cannot justify violence, abuse, or conduct that places lives at risk. The ruling is expected to serve as a significant legal precedent against harmful practices carried out under the guise of spiritual healing or exorcism in Zimbabwe.

Beitbridge bishop jailed for murder