Tendai Mukombe, the first wife of Madzibaba Ishmael, accuses her former husband of hypocrisy, alleging that he preaches one thing while doing another to manipulate his followers.
Mukombe, who has eight children with Madzibaba Ishmael, including two deceased children and four living with their father, now lives in poverty in Murehwa.
Their marriage deteriorated when Madzibaba Ishmael took a second, younger wife. Mukombe reveals that Madzibaba Ishmael abolished the lobola tradition but paid lobola for her and obtained birth certificates for all their children, despite such documents being forbidden at his shrine.
Tendai Mukombe claims to have been cut off from support by Madzibaba Ishmael and their children after she refused to adhere to his church’s doctrine.
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She recounts enduring significant hardships, including the near-sale of her rural home and contemplating suicide due to the strain of her marital issues.
Despite her struggles, Mukombe remains resilient, finding solace in her faith and support from neighbors. She emphasizes the challenges she faced during Madzibaba Ishmael’s imprisonment and the additional pain caused by his decision to marry another wife upon his release.
Due to the suffering she endured, Mukombe chose to distance herself from Madzibaba Ishmael’s church, joining another religious group to find acceptance and support for herself and her children.
As the spotlight intensifies on Madzibaba Ishmael and the dark underbelly of Canaan Camp, Zimbabwe confronts uncomfortable truths about the prevalence of abuse and exploitation, particularly within religious communities where authority figures wield unchecked power over their followers.
