Satanists speak their mind

Homosexual and lesbian intimacy is central to their diabolic rituals. Innocent human lives are also sacrificed to keep their "blood bank" at optimum level.

Red candles, strands of red cloth and human blood complete the strict ordinances cut out by their master - the devil. In the dark world of Harare Remand Prison, Satan is the foremost object of worship to inmates Ngezi Ngendo Bragxton and George Renee Lungange.

"No amount of incarceration will deter us from worshipping the devil. We would rather die than change our faith!" declares Bragxton in a thunderous voice.

"He has provided all we need. I already have a vehicle showroom and a line of supermarkets back in Congo. No greater freedom (from God's word) surpasses what Satan has given us."

Congolese nationals Bragxton and Lungange stirred controversy last week after they sought State permission to open a devil worshippers' church in Zimbabwe. The pair - which fled civil war in their country - was arrested at Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge in 2011 after attempting to "convert" fellow refugees.

They spent the initial phase of their incarceration at Mutare Remand Prison before being transferred to the capital.

They remain defiant despite sharp criticism.

Both men seemed determined to draw the world into the dark realms of their belief during a chat with The Sunday Mail at the holding complex last Wednesday.

Bragxton throws his thin hands into the air to support his astonishing decision to adopt Satan as his spiritual father and mentor.

"I believe it is everyone's prerogative and non-negotiable right to choose a religious path which is beneficial to his or her social well-being," he said in his heavy Lingala accent.

"It is all about obtaining your freedom from God's word and swearing allegiance to the work and power of the devil."

Bragxton (32) "enlisted for service" when he was only a teenager.

It was an American-based organisation known as Sword of the Spirit Ministries that caught his attention. The organisation - also called Church of Satan - sent him the airfare to travel to South Africa for membership rites.

"I joined the church of my own volition when I first read about this organisation founded by Anton Szandor La Vey, in San Francisco, California, on April 30 1966.
"I became more interested and ended up applying to become a member. The joining rites were performed using the blood of other devotees and mine.
"We drank this mixed human blood to signify our full membership."

Bragxton - now an "evangelist" - said one has to apply to become a member.

However, not every applicant is successful.

He said new members are closely monitored for a year before being fully embraced. Members are also required to pay annual fees after signing contracts.

They then read the works of Anton Szandor La Vey who is revered by his followers for authoring The Satanic Bible, The Devil's Notebook, Satan Speaks, and The Secret Life of a Satanist, among other titles.

Lungange - on the other hand - claims to have been initiated into the movement by his father. The 41-year-old "high priest" said members graduate through "five degrees of Satan" that entail water, land, light, spirit and darkness forces.

The "water degree", he said, enables one to swim across seas and oceans to attend gatherings with other Satanists all over the world.

He also claims the "spirit degree" immortalises an individual and allows them to "fly" to faraway places for meetings and secret Satanic gatherings.

Lungange added that sex is an integral part of their rituals which are performed at major events on their calendar.

About 40 such festivities are lined up annually with girls between the ages of seven and 17 being active participants.

"A Satanic communion consists of a mixture of blood, urine, semen, red cloths and blue and red candles," he said.

"The two deadliest ritual events are Halloween and walpurgissnacht day. They are held in dark rooms at night.

"We chant and drink blood from victims to enhance our powers while baptism is done by immersing an individual in blood."

Lungange said the church has a blood bank in South Africa where the blood of mainly accident victims is stored.

"To boost the blood bank, we undertake what are called spiritual killings where we have a hand or indirectly cause the death of a number of people.

"Their blood is transported spiritually to boost the blood bank supplies. The bank never runs dry; that is where we get blood for our ceremonies.

"Several Christian pastors have tried to convince us, but that is all in vain. Their attempts usually backfire to their families or to them, individually. I would want to believe that some, if not all of them, will never dare try that again; that is if they are still alive!"

Inmates at the prison dread spending a long time with the duo.

"We are not comfortable sharing the same roof with these guys. The officers are at least safe because they do not share everything with them," said Wellington Chanakira, who has been on remand since 2011.

"Of course, they must leave. Many people here are not satisfied by the pace at which the courts are processing our papers. We also want to go. This place is becoming dangerous!" Another inmate, Partson Shoriwa, said:

"It is very difficult to vote for someone to leave, but these two must definitely go. We are all not comfortable having them here."

Harare Remand Prison officer-in-charge Chief Superintendent Billiot Chibaya said prison authorities only learnt that the two were Satanists recently.

"We did not know until the time they wrote a letter to me, seeking authorisation to conduct nocturnal prayers and start their satanic cult here. That is when we interrogated them. They then confessed to being Satanists. We could not, however, allow them to practise, as we are a Christian nation. Satanism is taboo here in Zimbabwe." Chief Supt Chibaya said his office has been closely monitoring the two since.

"We interview other inmates daily, but none of them has told us that they have been convinced to join them."