Ishmael Chokurongerwa, referred to by himself and his followers as Prophet Ishmael, is a Zimbabwean religious leader and self-proclaimed apostolic prophet who is accused of child exploitation.
[1] In 2024, Zimbabwean police raided a compound near Harare where Ishmael lived with around 1,000 followers, and discovered a total of 251 children, most of whom did not have birth certificates and who were being made to perform manual labor instead of attending school.
[1] Some of Ishmael's followers have refused to abandon their beliefs.
"[1] The Prophet Ishmael sect shares features in common with other apostolic (also called Vapostori) churches, which have a large following in Southern Africa.
[1][2] Ishmael was previously jailed in 2015 for leading an attack on police officers.