Church of England Blamed in Zimbabwe Drowning

Edith Nyachuru holds the Church of England responsible for the death of her brother, Guide, who drowned at a Christian holiday camp in Zimbabwe run by John Smyth, a notorious child abuser. Smyth, who had a history of abuse detailed in a 1982 report by Anglican clergyman Mark Ruston, continued his abusive practices in Zimbabwe after moving there in 1984. Guide drowned shortly after arriving at Smyth's camp, which normalized nudity and other disturbing behaviors. Nyachuru believes that had the Church intervened sooner, her brother would still be alive. Despite an investigation by lawyer David Coltart that revealed Smyth's violent patterns, he evaded justice for years, with the Church only excommunicating him in 2017. The Church's delayed response and lack of accountability have deeply affected the Nyachuru family, highlighting systemic failures in addressing child abuse within religious organizations.