By Tinoonga Mawere, Zvishavane|An Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) has been nabbed for allegedly raping four female congregants claiming the act was a sacrifice to God.
Pastor Lawrence Gwaza(60) of Redcliff Kwekwe,allegedly warned the women not to disclose the incidents to anyone since they would get a curse from God . Gwaza appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Story Rushambwa who remanded him to November 24 2015.
Gwaza is accused of raping a 35 year old Chegato High School teacher, a mission school in Mberengwa, between 2002 and 2008. He allegedly told her she would get what she asked from God if she made an offering to God by sleeping with the pastor.Gwaza also allegedly raped a 48 year old Church member from Tura Village in the same area between 2002 and 2003. He also told the woman the act was an offering to God.
Gwaza also raped two other women between July 2002 and the end of 2005 after telling them sleeping with him was an act of offering to God .Gwaza who went on a preaching exercise in Zvishavane at that time would call the women on one on one prayer sessions. The cases came to light after one of the women reported him to the police after realising he had slept with different women.
Cases of rape have of late been on the rise due to socio-economic hardships since people flock to spiritual leaders to seek remedy for the bitter living conditions they face . Several women have been raped by self-styled prophets under the guise of prophetic revelations.