For over three decades, Edith Nyachuru has carried the burden of her brother’s unexplained death. Guide Nyachuru, just 16 years old, died under mysterious circumstances at a Christian camp in Zimbabwe in 1992. His death is part of a broader scandal involving British barrister and lay preacher John Smyth, who abused over 100 boys and young men across Britain, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. This scandal, one of the darkest in the history of the Church of England, led to the resignation of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury in 2023. Now, as the church prepares to install its first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, the Nyachuru family and other victims are pursuing legal action in the UK, hoping for long-overdue justice and closure. Edith Nyachuru expressed the family’s anguish, stating, “The most painful thing is we don’t know how he died, what kind of pain he endured.” The legal claim, initiated by Edith’s 87-year-old mother, Rachel, and six Zimbabwean men, accuses the Church of England of negligence for failing to act when abuse was first uncovered decades ago. Their attorneys, UK law firm Leigh Day, are demanding a full apology, access to church documents, compensation, and an independent review. The case highlights a trail of abuse that spanned continents. Smyth, who ran Christian holiday camps for elite British schoolboys, relocated to Zimbabwe in 1984, where he continued his abusive practices. A 1982 report by then parish Vicar Mark Ruston in Cambridge detailed severe beatings and other abuses, but no action was taken, allowing Smyth to continue his crimes in Africa. In Zimbabwe, lawyer David Coltart compiled a damning report in 1993, describing beatings, forced nudity, and other horrific acts. Guide Nyachuru, chosen to become his school’s next head boy, was found dead in a swimming pool at one of Smyth’s camps. Smyth, who presided over the funeral, was later charged with culpable homicide but fled to South Africa, where he died in 2018. The Nyachuru family believes Guide’s death could have been prevented had the Church of England acted sooner. An independent review commissioned by the church last year accused it of a cover-up, stating that Smyth was “out of sight and out of mind, a problem solved and exported to Africa.” Welby, who knew Smyth in the 1970s, claimed he was unaware of the abuses until 2013 and later apologized to Edith. However, the review found that he failed to report Smyth’s abuse to the police promptly. The Nyachuru family now pins their hopes on Archbishop Sarah Mullally, who has vowed to rebuild trust and ensure the church responds effectively to abuse allegations. Edith Nyachuru appealed to Mullally, saying, “Being a woman and a mother, you know what we are going through. Can you please look into this case with urgency? We need closure.” For the Nyachurus, remembrance of Guide has become a quiet ritual, with candles lit on his death date and flowers laid at his grave. As the family continues their quest for justice, they hope the church’s leadership transition will bring transparency, accountability, and healing for survivors.
Zimbabwean family seeks justice for brother’s death linked to abuse at Christian camp
