Anglican Sexual Abuse Victim "Held Hostage By Boyfriend"
Investigations into the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland sex scandal incriminating a senior cleric have stalled as the complainant is reportedly being held hostage by her boyfriend.
The church’s education secretary, Reverend Edmond Zambe Samutereko is accused of bedding Maria Mwandirozva of Palmerstone, Mutare, while she was a student on attachment in the diocese’s accounts section.
Rev Samutereko and Mwandirozva’d illicit affair was exposed by the latter’s boyfriend, Farari Hokoyo, after he had bumped into some lurid messages in his girlfriend’s cellphone.
When contacted for comment by The Manica Post, Anglican Diocese of Manicaland Registrar, Ashel Mutungura said:
Our official position is that after seeing the social media messages, the Office of the Diocesan Registrar, in terms of the Constitution and Canon of the Anglican Church of the Province of Central Africa, has been authorised by the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland to investigate the matter and deal with it in accordance with our Canon laws.
However, it is believed that Mwandirozva is being held hostage by her boyfriend, she has not been forthcoming to talk to anyone.
In a separate interview, Anglican Diocese of Manicaland, Bishop Eric Ruwona said they have been trying to reach out to the complainant whose rights were allegedly violated without any success. He said:
We are indeed investigating that case, but we have had a challenge in reaching out to the complainant.
So far the people we sent on the ground to contact the complainant were told that they can only talk to her boyfriend.
Both the boyfriend and the girlfriend have not yet turned up for inquiries.
We hope to be through with the investigations in a few days.
Efforts by The Manica Post to get comments from Hokoyo and Mwandirozva also drew blanks as they were not forthcoming with information.
Their current location could not be ascertained.
It was reported that Hokoyo had made arrangements to formally introduce Mwandirozva to his family during the just-ended Heroes’ and Defence Forces holiday.
