Marange shrine scandals continues as 13-year-old girl disappears

MUTARE – The death of 14-year-old Anna Machaya as she gave birth at the Mafararikwa Shrine of the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church during their Passover gathering last month has opened a Pandora’s box after another daughter of 13 years old would have been married at the same time.

Although the church declined to meet last month, Manica Post investigations revealed that Violet Mushati, who was with her grandmother Violet Saini Zhangaroti from Taruvinga village in the Mutiusinazita area of ​​Buhera South, was last returned to the shrine on July 18.

Violet, who was in grade seven at Barura Primary School, reportedly “disappeared” as they prepared to return home to Buhera with other parishioners.

Just like Anna Machaya, whose burial place is still unknown, Violet’s whereabouts are unknown.

Although Zhangaroti and her husband Enock Mushati Mucharwa have continued to express ignorance of the girl’s whereabouts, Violet’s father, Tinashe Mushati Mucharwa, who lives in South Africa, and other relatives believe that she got married at the church meeting.

Relatives claim they discovered through their research that Violet was attracted to a ‘suitor’ who displayed US dollars while offering her snacks during the church meeting.

Some of the Mucharwas claim Violet’s “marriage” may have been settled with treats like sugar and a small bill given to her grandparents.

Her 13-year-old cousin was reportedly married the same way last year. The girl is said to have recently lost her baby after complications during childbirth.

Although Violet “disappeared” a month ago, Zhangaroti did not file a missing person’s report with the police until Tuesday this week.

Marange shrine series of controversies

When The Manica Post investigated Violet’s whereabouts, Zhangaroti said on Tuesday, “I’m on my way to Mutiusinazita Police Station to report Violet’s ‘disappearance’.”

“She disappeared shortly after our Passover meeting at Mafararikwa Shrine on July 18. We were together at the Marange meeting and she “disappeared” just as we were about to leave for Buhera.

“I tried in vain to find her. I had a terrible headache and was advised to go home and rest. Some people say that Violet ran away with another parishioner, but this are unfounded rumors. She is still too young to get married.

“We looked for her everywhere and all the time I could not report it to the police because I was bedridden. Their disappearance is not new because these cases are frequent after our church meetings.”

However, an embittered Tinashe, in an interview from his base in South Africa, said he believed his daughter was staying with her “husband” now.

“Brother, it’s hard to imagine anyone staying as a wife with my daughter. I’m very interested in knowing the truth because I don’t accept my parents’ explanation for Violet’s disappearance. We sent search parties everywhere, but it left gaps.

An uncle, Innocent Mucharwa, said: “My brother Enock Mushati Mucharwa and his wife Zhangaroti know where Violet is. This is not the first reported incident in this family.

“Tafadzwa finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place because if he wants justice to prevail, he cannot uncover his parents’ shenanigans.

“All her sisters were married the same way. Last year, one of her sisters got married at 13 and had a child this year. The baby died shortly after birth from birth complications.”

Johanne Marange Coordinator and spokesperson for the Apostolic Church, Mr. Nyasha Marange said, “Violet’s case has not yet been brought to our attention. We never met last month, as the Mucharwas claim.

“We don’t condone child marriage and if she does marry then the law should take its course.

“If individuals commit crimes, the church will not protect them. We have suffered a lot of bad publicity because of the misdeeds of individuals and I want to reiterate that our high priest Noah Taguta has always spoken out strongly against child marriage.

“We are a law-abiding church and urge the police to fully investigate Violet’s disappearance and hold all perpetrators accountable.”

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