“The sister of a 16-year-old boy who drowned while swimming naked at a Christian holiday camp in Zimbabwe run by child abuser John Smyth holds the Church of England responsible for his death. Edith Nyachuru, speaking to the BBC, expressed her belief that if the Church had intervened and stopped Smyth, her brother Guide Nyachuru would still be alive today.
John Smyth, a British barrister, moved to Zimbabwe in 1984 with his family and continued his abusive behavior towards boys at Christian holiday camps. Despite a 1982 report detailing the horrific physical, psychological, and sexual abuse inflicted by Smyth on boys in the UK, the Church did not take sufficient action to prevent further harm.
Guide Nyachuru, described as a beloved and talented young boy, tragically lost his life at one of Smyth’s camps in December 1992. Witnesses reported that Smyth had a fixation on nudity and would engage in inappropriate behavior with the boys, including showering naked with them and promoting naked trampolining.
Smyth’s abusive practices came to light through the efforts of Zimbabwean lawyer David Coltart, who investigated the beatings and other misconduct at the camps. Despite efforts to hold Smyth accountable, legal challenges and Smyth’s manipulation of the system prevented justice from being served.
Ms Nyachuru recalls the shock and confusion surrounding her brother’s death, including the lack of a post-mortem examination and the hasty burial conducted by Smyth himself. The tragic loss of Guide Nyachuru serves as a painful reminder of the Church’s failure to protect vulnerable individuals from abuse.”