Pastor drowns woman during baptism

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Pastor drowns woman during baptism because 'she seemed like a vampire'

Masimba Chirayi, 37, is charged with drowning Wendy Thinnamay Masuka

Apostolic pastor was baptising Masuka in the Nyaure River when she drowned

He told a court that she appeared 'like a vampire' and was 'possessed by demons'

Belief in the supernatural is widespread in Zimbabwe and the government officially recognises the existence of supernatural powers

By CHRIS PLEASANCE FOR MAILONLINE



PUBLISHED: 06:49 EDT, 19 April 2018 | UPDATED: 10:44 EDT, 19 April 2018




A Zimbabwean pastor drowned a woman during her baptism because she 'appeared like a vampire', a court has heard.



Masimba Chirayi, 37, appeared at Harare magistrate's court on Thursday charged with culpable homicide in the death of congregant Wendy Thinnamay Masuka.



Masuka died over the weekend while being baptised by Chirayi in the Nyaure River, around 35 miles north of the capital.




Pastor Masimba Chirayi, 37, admitted drowning Wendy Thinnamay Masuka in the Nyaure River (pictured) during her baptism, but said he did so because 'she appeared possessed'



Chirayi denied intentionally drowning Masuka, saying he kept her underwater because he feared she had become possessed.



'In my eyes she was like a vampire possessed by demons, she was violent and I thought she was going to kill people,' New Zimbabwe reported.



'I kept her submerged in water until I overpowered her.'


Chirayi was released on a $50 bond and is due back in court again next month.



He is an apostolic preacher at the New Johanne Masowe church, which is the largest religious sect in Zimbabwe.



Several congregants are expected to testify against him, it is reported.


Chirayi told Harare Magistrate's Court that Masuka was 'like a vampire' and he thought 'she was going to kill people', so he held her underwater until he overpowered her



Belief in the supernatural is widespread in Zimbabwe and the government officially recognises the existence of supernatural powers.



In 2006 minsters lifted a colonial-era ban on practicing witchcraft, though said it should not be used to harm another person.



Shortly before Robert Mugabe was ousted from power by now-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, he accused his former deputy of practicing witchcraft on him.



In nearby Malawi, 250 people were arrested last year after a spat





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