He abused over 100 boys at church camps
Curious Edline
3,803 views
#zimbabwe
In the 1980s, a British barrister and evangelical Christian named John Smyth arrived in Zimbabwe. To many people, he appeared to be a respectable Christian leader, running holiday camps for boys from some of the country’s leading schools. But behind the image of Christian mentorship was a disturbing story of violence, humiliation and abuse.
13 Comments
@SonyaSmith-bs9vm 1 month ago
Thank you . I remember feeling sick and angry during the investigation and today feel just as sick.
@damselle9508 1 month ago
How can you possibly justify making the boys swim makes and a grown man showering with young boys? And the parents to even buy the stories is shocking for me
@faithsrealtalk2292 1 month ago
This man was definitely a closeted gay man who hated himself for being gay and sounds like he punished boys for his attraction. Internalised homophobia
@mzee0000 1 month ago
There’s a guy from my village who was also soddomizing high school boys and is on the run since it was announced in the papers. He was a teacher when all this happened.
@marshallsmillie3888 1 month ago
When it involves religion and worship, humans should've told god thanks but no thanks
@sisireakoma1085 1 month ago (edited)
Thank you Edline for covering these and other stories of abuse, injustice and religious exploitation and contamination in Africa and Zimbabwe. Raising awareness is incredibly important, especially for victims who have suffered in silence, carrying misplaced shame and silence.
Appreciate your work, and would love to connect with you as someone who works in the mental health space.
Appreciate your work, and would love to connect with you as someone who works in the mental health space.
@nathanmajuru6317 1 month ago
The case you have refered to is SMYTH V USHEWOKUNZE & ANOTHER 1997 (2) ZLR 544 (S). It is still being refered to even today especially on the duties of the prosecutor. Some of the famous quotes in the case are that "Like Caeser's wife, a prosecutor should be beyong any sus[icion" and that the prosecutor is a "Minister of truth".
@paulgwese4233 1 month ago (edited)
Judging by how the case collapsed , it's very possible that he was protected by influential people in the corridors of power in Zimbabwe.
His camps were for wealth boys from the private schools. Thus, there was no public scrutiny by outsiders including the ministry of education and police.
His camps were for wealth boys from the private schools. Thus, there was no public scrutiny by outsiders including the ministry of education and police.
He abused over 100 boys at church camps
Curious Edline
3,803 views
#zimbabwe
In the 1980s, a British barrister and evangelical Christian named John Smyth arrived in Zimbabwe. To many people, he appeared to be a respectable Christian leader, running holiday camps for boys from some of the country’s leading schools. But behind the image of Christian mentorship was a disturbing story of violence, humiliation and abuse.
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