Zimbabwean Victim's Sister Blames Church for Brother's Tragic Death

In an emotional interview, Edith Nyachuru expressed her grief and anger over the loss of her brother, Guide, who drowned under dubious circumstances at a Christian camp in Zimbabwe. She accused the Church of England of neglect for allowing abuser John Smyth to continue his work despite previous accusations, urging accountability and transparency from church leaders.

The sister of a 16-year-old boy who died tragically while attending a Christian holiday camp in Zimbabwe has voiced her anger at the Church of England, blaming them for failing to protect her brother. Edith Nyachuru's brother, Guide, was set to become head boy at his school when he drowned under questionable circumstances during a camp run by John Smyth, a convicted child abuser.

"The Church knew about the abuses that John Smyth was committing. They should have stopped him. Had they stopped him, I think my brother would still be alive," stated Edith in a poignant interview. Guide drowned while swimming naked, a camp tradition, just 12 hours after arriving at Ruzawi School in December 1992.

John Smyth, a British barrister, relocated to Zimbabwe in 1984 to work with an evangelistic organization. His past abusive behavior towards boys in the UK had been reported in 1982, revealing severe physical and psychological mistreatment. Despite these findings, Smyth went on to establish himself as a prominent figure within the Christian community in Zimbabwe, running camps that perpetuated similar abusive practices.

The Nyachuru family was devastated when they learned of Guide’s passing. Witnesses reported that other boys at the camp returned to their dormitory without noticing Guide was missing until it was too late. The trauma intensified when Edith was prevented from viewing her brother’s body due to him being described as “indecently dressed.”

Smyth's enduring influence and the authorities' inability to act led to numerous instances of abuse under his supervision, including naked group activities and punishments that left lasting physical and emotional scars on the attendees. Legal actions against Smyth were met with resistance, leading to questionable outcomes that left his practices unchecked for years.

As the decades passed, the Church of England only began to acknowledge the extent of Smyth's abuses following media reports that surfaced in 2013. In 2021, Archbishop Justin Welby offered a formal apology to Edith, acknowledging the Church's failures in protecting Guide and called for accountability among senior church leaders.

Coltart, a lawyer instrumental in exposing Smyth's actions in Zimbabwe, echoed the need for institutions in the UK to take responsibility for their role in allowing Smyth's abuses to flourish worldwide. He advocated for the Church's outreach to potential victims still suffering in the aftermath of Smyth's actions.

Edith expressed that the Church must take decisive actions to ensure that such systemic failures do not happen again. "If they see something that requires police involvement, they should act," she asserted, emphasizing a crucial need for vigilance and justice for other victims.