Edith Nyachuru holds the Church of England accountable for her brother's death at a Christian camp run by John Smyth, a convicted child abuser. Despite earlier abuse reports in the UK, Smyth continued to operate in Zimbabwe, leading to tragic consequences. Now, the Church faces scrutiny as calls for accountability grow.
Zimbabwean Family Blames Church for Brother's Untimely Death Related to Child Abuse Scandal
Zimbabwean Family Blames Church for Brother's Untimely Death Related to Child Abuse Scandal
A sister of a drowning victim alleges the Church of England failed to prevent abuse at a camp, where her brother tragically died, linking it to the actions of notorious child abuser John Smyth.
The sister of a 16-year-old Zimbabwean boy who drowned while attending a Christian holiday camp is pointing fingers at the Church of England, claiming their negligence contributed to her brother's death, intertwined with the actions of convicted child abuser John Smyth. Edith Nyachuru alleges the Church was aware of Smyth's abusive history which, if addressed, could have prevented the tragedy involving her brother, Guide Nyachuru, who was soon to be appointed head boy at his school.
Smyth had previously faced allegations in the UK of brutalizing boys under the guise of “discipline”, with a 1982 Anglican report detailing the extent of his abusive methods, which included severe corporal punishment. However, this report did not circulate widely, effectively allowing Smyth to escape scrutiny. By the time he established himself in Zimbabwe in 1984, he was viewed as a respected figure, leading religious camps where he continued similar patterns of abuse.
Edith recounted how Guide's trip to the camp was a Christmas gift, but within hours of his arrival, the family received a harrowing call informing them of his death. Under suspicious circumstances, Guide was found at the bottom of the pool after swimming naked—a camp custom. Edith expressed her disbelief that more care was not taken to account for the boys’ whereabouts, raising questions about supervision at the camp.
Witnesses revealed Smyth's troubling behavior during these camps, which included encouraging candor around nudity and subjecting boys to corporal punishment. His casual demeanor may have distracted attendees from recognizing the gravity of his actions.
Following Guide's passing, attorney David Coltart led a local investigation into Smyth’s practices, discovering physical abuse, and filed a report that led him to be halted from running camps. Nevertheless, legal proceedings against Smyth regarding the culpable homicide of Guide faced numerous obstacles, ultimately leaving the case unresolved for years.
As the Church of England faced increasing criticism regarding their handling of this scandal, Edith recounted a 2021 apology from Archbishop Justin Welby, labeling it as “too little, too late”. Calls are emerging for church officials to step down for failing to intervene effectively against Smyth's abuses over several years.
Coltart, now the mayor of Bulawayo, highlights the necessity for broader accountability within organizations that overlooked risks to vulnerable populations in Zimbabwe and called for outreach to potential remaining victims of Smyth's actions.
Survivors and families of those affected by Smyth's abuse continue facing trauma, reinforcing the need for renewed vigilance and support from institutions that allowed such behavior to persist unchecked. Edith Nyachuru's plea serves as a stark reminder of the far-reaching impacts of institutional neglect surrounding child abuse cases.
