Zimbabwe police rescue 251 children in religious sect compound raid

Officers also found unregistered graves at the site near Harare (AP)

Zimbabwe police said they have arrested a man claiming to be a prophet of an apostolic sect at a shrine where believers stay in a compound and authorities found 16 unregistered graves, including those of infants, and more than 250 children used as cheap labour.

In a statement, police spokesman Paul Nyathi said Ishmael Chokurongerwa, 56, a “self-styled” prophet, led a sect with more than 1,000 members at a farm about 21 miles (34km) north-west of the capital, Harare, where the children were staying alongside other believers.