Bishop Convicted of Flogging Congregant to Death During ‘Healing’ Session

A bishop of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) in Beitbridge, Zimbabwe, has been convicted for the brutal death of a congregant during a so-called “healing” session. The 36-year-old bishop, Crispen Gomori, was found guilty after a spiritual cleansing ritual turned violent, leaving a woman dead and her husband severely injured.

The incident took place on March 6, 2023, when the couple visited the church shrine seeking spiritual healing. Upon their arrival, Gomori accused them of suffering from mental illness and ordered congregants to chain them to a tree within the church premises. They remained restrained until 8 p.m. when the bishop began what he claimed was a healing session. Using a leather whip, Gomori flogged them repeatedly in a prolonged beating that lasted several hours. The woman succumbed to her injuries around 4 a.m.

Realizing she had died, Gomori fled the scene, leaving the woman’s husband critically injured. Authorities were alerted, and police launched an investigation that led to the bishop’s arrest. The male victim was taken to Beitbridge District Hospital for medical treatment, while the woman’s body was transported for a post-mortem examination.

During the trial, prosecutor Tawanda Chigavazira presented evidence of the violent assault before Beitbridge resident magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba. In his defense, Gomori argued that the couple had willingly participated in the flogging as part of their religious faith. He admitted to striking the male victim seven times, insisting it was a form of spiritual healing. However, the court ruled that the severity of the assault went far beyond any acceptable practice, finding Gomori guilty of causing the woman’s death and grievously injuring her husband.