David Coltart takes on the Church of England

Published: 2 hours ago

Bulawayo mayor David Coltart has revealed that his law firm, Webb, Low and Barry, is assisting in a civil claim on behalf of victims of the late British evangelical Christian barrister John Smyth, who ran abusive summer camps in Zimbabwe during the 1980s and 1990s. Smyth's abuses included severe physical and psychological violence, enforced nudity, and sexualized behavior. His relocation to Zimbabwe was facilitated by the Church of England, which covered up earlier abuse he committed in the United Kingdom.

Seven Zimbabwean victims, including six men abused as teenagers at Smyth's camps and the mother of Guide Nyachuru, a 16-year-old who died at one of the camps in 1992, have instructed UK law firm Leigh Day to bring a legal claim against the Church of England. The claim alleges that senior clergy and officers deliberately concealed Smyth's abuse in the UK between 1982 and 1984, enabling him to continue preying on vulnerable boys in Zimbabwe.

The letter of claim details the horrific abuse, which included forced nudity, beatings with table tennis and jokari bats, groping, and intrusive discussions about masturbation. The Makin Review, commissioned by the Church of England and published in 2024, concluded that the Church actively covered up Smyth's abuses and considered him "a problem solved and exported to Africa," prompting the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury and disciplinary proceedings against several clergy.

The claimants are seeking a full apology, an independent review of the abuses in Zimbabwe and South Africa, and financial compensation. Rebekah Read, solicitor for Leigh Day, stated that the case is about accountability, emphasizing that the Church repeatedly failed to protect vulnerable boys while prioritizing its reputation.

Survivors such as Rocky Leanders and Edith Nyachuru, sister of Guide Nyachuru, expressed their anger and grief over the Church's inaction and the lasting impact of Smyth's abuse. The legal action seeks not only redress for the victims but also a broader message to prevent similar institutional failures in the future.
- BD

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