Controversial religious cult leader, Ishmael Chokurongerwa,  known as Madzibaba Ishmael, has been granted $1000  bail by the High Court after almost two months in remand prison.

This comes after he and 7 other leaders were arrested in March 2024. “The arrest follows a raid made by the Police at his farm on 12th March 2024. Investigations conducted by the Police established that 246 out of 251 children below the age of 18 years found at the farm had no birth certificates and were being used to perform various physical activities for the benefit of the sect’s leadership.

He has been barred from conducting any church gatherings and is expected to report to police three times a week.